Roll With Angel and The Lionking AS were the stars under the stars on Tuesday night (Oct. 26) as Pompano Park presented twin $14,200 Open events.
Roll With Angel, perfectly handled by Braxton Boyd for trainer John Mungillo, took top honours in the Open Handicap Pace for mares, stopping the timer in 1:54.3.
The four-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe, owned by Finish Line Investors, Thatsideofthefence, Jennifer Papiernick and Lawrence Willer, used a :28.3 finale to corral the 3-5 favourite, Evas Sports Czech (Ken Holliday), to score by three-parts of a length. Gold Star Igotdis (Dave Ingraham), closing fastest of all, was third while Talk Show Chica and Reticent Hanover earned the final awards in the classy sextet.
As the wings folded, Roll With Angel left with alacrity only to yield to the favourite at the :27.3 opener with Talk Show Chica and Primo Extremo next through a half in a well rated :57.3.
On the backside, Primo Extremo used a :27.1 backside blitz to join the leader at the third station in 1:25.1 leaving Roll With Angel third, two lengths off the lead but with room to roam widest of all turning for home.
At mid-stretch, Roll With Angel, with a full head of steam, surged on by in the final stages to score the win — her sixth of the year in 31 starts — pushing her seasonal bankroll to $51,390 and lifetime earnings to $117,706.
In a post-race interview, trainer John Mungillo said, "She (Roll With Angel) does have some good gate speed but she drew bad in her last two starts at Yonkers...and Yonkers is not the place to draw outside. Brax (driver Braxton Boyd) gave her a great drive when he left with her and got her in the ballgame early. When she had clearance around the final turn, he sent her outside and she responded. It turned out to be a great journey."
Off at 2-1 as second choice, Roll With Angel paid $6 to win.
The Lionking AS, owned, trained and driven by Kevin Wallis, was given crafty handling to score a game and well-earned, half-length win in 1:55 in the Open Trot.
Arclight Hanover (Dave Ingraham) was second, a half-length away, while BJ Lorado was just an inch or two further back in third. Mr Houdini and Oberto were next in the field of seven.
The Lionking AS, the six-year-old gelded son of Lionhunter, assigned the outside post, left decently enough as BJ Lorado (Braxton Boyd), leaving one slot inside of him, was sent winging through a hot opener of :27.
Shortly thereafter, The Lionking AS was on the prowl for the lead, got it three-eighths into the mile, and took the field to a half in :56.3.
Pressure immediately developed on the backside as Arclight Hanover applied pressure on the outside past the third station in 1:25.2.
Turning for home, Arclight Hanover continued his challenge and was joined by BJ Lorado, who found a seam on the inside, but The Lionking AS was up to the task to send his 2021 scorecard to 6-10-8 in 37 starts, good for $84,405 this year and $295,390 lifetime.
After the race, Wallis remarked, "He went what I thought was a very brave mile tonight. I was a little concerned that the long ship-in from the Poconos would have been a bit tough for him but he really responded well when he was confronted from both sides late. I was very proud of his performance. He's had a big year!"
As the 1-5 chalk, The Lionking AS paid $2.40 to win.
In other action on Tuesday, Elm Grove Nellie, trained by Gaston Lareau for the JP Houle Stable, pulled off a 15 to 1 upset in the $12,600 Open II for Mares, scoring in 1:66.1 for driver Fern Paquet, Jr.
The five-year-old daughter of Stonebridge Terror earned her 12th win of the year, vaulting her 2021 earnings this to $48,015. The upset over Rock N Roll Rosie (Boyd), Machin Marley (Ken Holliday), Gemalous and Odds On Cheddar keyed a 2-3-1-5-7 combo where one fortunate "Send It In" player hit for $7,083.02 in the Super Hi-5 finale.
Paquet was one of three drivers with driving doubles on the card as he also scored with Hello Mr P ($10.80) in a conditioned pace -- this three year-old gelded son of State Treasure scoring for Jemaxpo Racing Stable in 1:55 and extending the birthday celebration of trainer Dan Gassien.
Wally Hennessey and Ken Holliday also scored multiple wins on the Tuesday program. Hennessey took the opener with Red Dirt Rocknroll ($6.20) for trainer Lareau and the JP Houle Stable and scored a bit later with the nine-year-old trotting gelding Phoenician ($5.60), trained by Frankie Bambrick for owner Lee Clarke.
Holliday guided For A Dreamer ($21) along the pylons late to score in a conditioned trot for trainer Brent Davis, who co-owns with the Hatfield Stables -- this after scoring with the ageless Cantab Lindy ($8), this 13-year-old altered son of Cantab Hall scoring in 1:56.1 for his 59th career victory. The win was his sixth of the year and sent his lifetime bounty to $684,297. He's also owned by trainer Brent Davis.
Racing continues Halloween Sunday, Oct. 31, with post time set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)