Pompano Park's Sunday night (Nov. 4) racing program was filled with several highlights, with a rare walkover in one of the four FSBOA sponsored Stallion Stakes and Lucan Hanover scoring a sharp win in the Open Handicap pacing feature.
Kicking off the festivities, Proud Sophie, the only entrant in the $24,425 Stallion Stakes for two year-old trotting fillies, toured the Pompano Park oval in a lifetime best 2:03.3 for Jay Sears.
Trained by Kim Sears for Dr. David Fishman, who co-owns with Jay, the daughter of Proud Bushy carded panels of :31, 1:02.2 and 1:33.3 along the way with the walkover win sending her earnings to $32,980.
In the 28,800 Stallion Stakes for two year-old trotting colts and geldings, Prairie Shibby, a gelded son of Shibboleth Hanover, used a rousing rally in deep stretch to get up for the win in 2:01.1 for Wally Hennessey. The effort was a maiden victory for the Mike Deters trainee.
Owned by Deters along with Laurie Poulin, the youngster defeated stablemate Prairie Gem, handled by Jim Meittinis, by a half length. Prairie Arrow, yet another stablemate of the top two finishers, finished third with Mike in the bike.
Coming in with $2,735 in his two previous lifetime starts, Prairie Shibby went back to his stall in the Deters Stable with earnings of $18,575.
The $28,750 Stallion Stakes for two year-old pacing colts and geldings went to Zaza Boy, an altered son of Rockingcam.
Trained by Michile Lorenzo for Souren Hovsepian and Rod Lorenzo, Zaza Boy also picked up his maiden win timed in 1:57.3. Mike Simons handled the lines back of the winner, scoring by two and a quarter lengths over the pacesetter JBs Boomerang (Bryce Fenn) with Gold Star Yoder (James Yoder) third.
Zaza Boy now has $18,492 in his four career starts.
On the betting card, Natasha, the brilliant Six Of Diamonds filly trained by Kim Sears for husband-owner Jay, justified her 1-10 backing with a handy win – six and three-quarter lengths – in 1:54.4, just one tick off her Vernon Downs mark.
Wally Hennessey was in her sulky for the decisive win, keeping her scorecard unblemished in five starts at Pompano Park.
Rockin Ellie (Dave Ingraham) was second while Lime Twist (Mike Simons) finished third.
With this Stallion Stake worth $32,000, Natasha now has 6-0-1 scorecard in eight starts, with the win more than doubling her earnings coming in and now standing at $31,725.
She paid $2.20 to win.
In the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace, Lucan Hanover, the game eight-year-old gelded son of Western Ideal, used a :27.3 finale to hit the wire in 1:51.2 for Greg Merton, two-and-a-half lengths better than track record holder Panocchio, with Wally Hennessey in the bike.
Speed Trap (Mike Simons) won a three-horse photo for show honours over Pan Street USA and A Cool Card.
Owned by Vogel&Wags Nags Stable along with Pine Hill Racing and trainer Jack Rice, Lucan Hanover vaulted his career earnings to $1,157,471 -- $66,075 this year.
Off at 11-10, Lucan Hanover paid $4.20 to win.
Two other miles of note were the performances of Mc Mach and Windsun Gotham.
Mc Mach, handled by trainer Rick Plano for Maryann Plano and Jan and Mindy Findling Repko, wired his foes in a lifetime best 1:50.4, sawing off panels of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:23.1 along the way. The four year-old son of Mach Three knocked off two-fifth off his previous mark at Hoosier Park.
Windsun Gotham, driven by Wally Hennessey, got up in the final stride to nail Casimir Quasimodo (Andy Shetler) in 1:51.1, also a new lifetime mark.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 has a carryover of$7,610.58 going into Monday's racing program.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)