The brother-sister act by Hey Dont Tell Me and Come On Spank Me highlighted Super Night action at Pompano Park on Sunday night (Dec. 19) as the South Florida played host to the $400,000 FSBOA sponsored Florida Breeders Stakes-Jay Sears Memorial Stakes finals featuring state-bred and/or foaled two and three-year-olds.
Here are the results for the eight finals:
$52,000 Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace
Gold Star Sven, who used a :26.3 closing kick home last week to nip favoured Cowboy Cool on the line, used the exact same strategy this week, as well, using a :26.2 punch to nail his arch rival, again, right on the wire in 1:56.4.
With Cory Braden, once again, handling the lines, Gold Star Sven sat chilly back of Cowboy Cool (Wally Hennessey) and looked to be out-smarted as soft fractions of :28.1, 1:00.1 and 1:30.1 (slowest of the division’s stakes season this fall) emerged before tilting out at the head of the stretch and began gnawing away, the final “gnaw” a successful one at the wire.
Prairie Handsome (Braxten Boyd) was, as usual, third — he has been third in all six Florida stakes appearances this season — while Forever Joe K and Gator At The Well completed the order of finish.
“He (Gold Star Sven) is just a very gutsy racehorse," said a humble Braden after the race. "I had no choice but to sit back of Wally (Hennessey) because, if I pulled, he’d hang me out there and I didn’t want that. So, I was forced to be patient and ‘Sven’ made me look good, that’s all.”
Gold Star Sven, a gelded son of Hypnotic Blue Chip trained by Maggie Audley for the Gold Star Farm, vaulted his earnings to $52,611 on the strength of a 4-4-1 scorecard in 12 starts.
Though he was off as the 7-5 second choice, all betting (except the Pick-5) was refunded due to a tote malfunction when the pari-mutuel windows failed to close at the bell.
$53,000 Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace
Hey Dont Tell Me, driven by Dale Hiteman, again hooked up with arch-rival Theflyingrock (Joe Chindano Jr.) and, again, out-fought that one with a :26.4 closing panel to score in 1:52.2, just one tick off his lifetime best.
The official margin was 2-1/2 lengths on the line, only after Theflyingrock used another severe brush into the final bend to stick his head in front. Mister David C (Hennessey) finished third, 3-3/4 lengths off the winner, while Gold Star Artie was fourth over stablemate Gold Star Baron.
Hey Dont Tell Me used his rail post to perfection, leaving with his usual alacrity and posting opening panels of :27.3 and :57.1. Things began to heat up on the backside as Lucky Ramsey pulled from fifth and began his forward charge, forcing the hand of Theflyingrock into his binge.
After three-quarters in 1:25.3, Hiteman asked and Hey Dont Tell Me answered with that devastating sprint to the wire to keep his Florida stakes record unblemished this fall with his fifth straight success.
The sophomore altered son of Tellitlikeitis is trained by Hiteman for the DTM Stable and sent his seasonal bounty to $49,642 with the win.
Off at a dime-to-a-dollar, Hey Dont Tell Me paid $2.20 to win.
$53,000 Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Come On Spank Me, a full Tellitlikeitis sister to Hey Dont Tell Me, also trained and driven by Hiteman for the DTM Stable, completed the “brother-sister” sweep of their respective Florida Breeders Stakes events.
The juvenile lass got very heady handling from Hiteman and wore down the leader, Prairie Merida (Braxten Boyd), at mid-stretch to score by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57.1.
Prairie Merida did easily hold on to second while Benicio (Mike Micallef) was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third. PJS Fancy Dancer was fourth while Gracious Lady picked up the nickel in the field of six.
It was Prairie Merida very hot off the wings, flying through an opening panel in :26.4 with Neverouttathefight in the loose garden spot -- five lengths back -- with Come On Spank Me third.
Hiteman, sensing a slowing of the pace, elected to move past Neverouttathefight into second, closing the gap to 1-1/2 lengths halfway through in :56.3. On the backside, PJS Fancy Dancer brushed from fourth to second as Hiteman sat chilly with his filly and finally found room to roam once they straightened away for the drive home.
In a post-race interview, Hiteman had high praise for his brother-sister act saying, “They both raced terrific. I know the bettors were expecting them to win but, in horse racing, anything can happen and these two raced just great. The first one (Hey Dont Tell Me) just needs a chirp or two and he knows what to do. The filly (Come On Spank Me) got a little luckier when the early pace took something out of the leader when it counted and she was ready to pounce.”
Come On Spank Me more than doubled her earnings going in ($19,230) and her new total is $45,730 with this, her fourth win in nine starts.
She paid $3.20 to her multitude of faithful.
$54,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Ifnotmewho, driven by Wally Hennessey, pulled away from arch-rival Prairie Virtue (Corey Braden) to score a 2-1/2-length victory in a lifetime best 1:57.4 performance.
The daughter of Credit Winner, trained by Jake Huff for owner Herman Brewer, led at every pole, clocking fractions of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:29.1 before a :28.3 finale stitched up the win. Prairie Trinket (Dave Ingraham) was third, 7-3/4 lengths away while Prairie Ginger and Ciao Bella earned the final awards in the septet.
“After we got to the half in a minute, I felt pretty good about our chances," said Hennessey after the race. "That other filly (Prairie Virtue) has been with us all year nip and tuck but Jake (trainer Huff) had this one ready to roll tonight and she really responded when that other filly made that run at us. She was as strong or stronger at the end of the mile.”
With both Ifnotmewho and Prairie Virtue each having a pair of wins during the stakes season, this was a deciding factor for division champion with this Super Night win pushing her career bankroll to $119,840 -- $48,537 this semester.
She paid $3.60 to win as the slight favourite.
$55,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Milleniums Girl, handled by Dave Ingraham for recuperating trainer Mike Simons and owner Richard Marsh, scored a 1:56.2 three-quarter-length win, using a picture perfect, second-over journey to set up her lethal :28.2 finale.
She scored over a very game Sheza Terror (John MacDonald). Prairie Sweetness (Wally Hennessey) was third, three lengths away while Rocks StormyD was next after cutting much of the mile. Sparkyfareyouwell, dead last around the final bend, rallied for fifth in the field of nine.
As the wings folded, Sheza Terror, beginning from the outside nine post, went sprinting and took the field through an opening panel of :28.1 before yielding to Rocks StormyD -- that one taking the field through a half in :58.3 and third station in 1:27.2 while feeling moderate pressure from Prairie Sweetness and a second-over Milleniums Girl while Sheza Terror stayed chilly along the inside looking for -- and finding -- a seam.
Once they straightened away, Sheza Terror squeezed on through but couldn't stall the surging Milleniums Girl, who was closing quickest of all on the far outside.
The win was the third straight for Mllleneiums Girl prompting driver Ingraham to remark, "Talk about a filly peaking at the right time, that's the story right here. She's sharp as a tack right now. Very happy for Mike (trainer Simons)."
The consistent daughter of Royel Millennium sent her juvenile scorecard to 5-5-1 in 13 starts, good for $46,332.
As the 4-5 toteboard favourite, she paid $3.80 to win.
$51,000 Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot (non-betting)
Ifnotnowwhen, with Wally Hennessey in his bike for trainer Jake Huff and owner Herman Brewer, needed a lifetime best performance to nail the win in this sophomore trot, just getting by a stubborn Shulda Hada Drink on the wire in 1:58.3.
Seeking Mathew (Alessandro Spano) was third, 16-1/4 lengths off the winner while Jo Jo Jet was fourth in the quarter.
The altered son of Muscle Mass, a perfect five-for-five during the Florida Stakes season, was on the muscle when the wings folded but relinquished control to Shulda Hada Drink (John MacDonald) at the opening :29.3 marker. The pace quickened during the second panel as Shulda Hada Drink sped to a four-length lead halfway through in :58.2. On the backside, Hennessey began to edge closer and, by the time they reached the third station in 1:28.1, had narrowed the gap to 1-1/2 lengths. In the lane, a war the length of the stretch took place with Ifnotnowwhen just up at the wire.
The win was the seventh lifetime for the sophomore, vaulting his career bankroll to $74,592 -- $54,092 earned this year with $41,970 of that in just the past seven weeks.
$51,000 Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot (non-betting)
Prince Of Sussex, handled by Wally Hennessey, crushed his three foes with a handy 2:04 win -- the margin 26-3/4 lengths over Oh No Not Again (Dave Ingraham) with Gator Force (Ken Holliday) third over Ditchemkwik N Howe.
The gelded son of Creatine, also trained by Jake Huff for owners Heather Wilder and Herman Brewer, kept his Florida stakes record perfect this fall with his sixth straight triumph and sent his 2021 earnings to $90,789.
Hennessey’s charge blasted off the wings and opened up a quick 15 lengths through an opening panel of :30.4. From there, he widened the lead with every stride going subsequent fractions of 1:02.2 and 1:32.3.
“He (Prince of Sussex) has been dominant throughout the fall and he’s just a well-mannered, good gaited horse," said Hennessey after the race. "Manners matters and he was perfectly mannered all season here.
$50,000 Two-Year-Old Filly Trot (non-wagering)
Gs Independence, driven by trainer Jim McDonald, left no doubt from the very first stride off the wings and went on to score a scintillating 2:02.1 win -- her margin an astounding 67 lengths -- over Im Solared Powered, with Charis third to complete the order of finish for this trio.
The daughter of Big Chocolate carded fractions of :29.2, :59.2 and 1:30 before coasting home for the win, which was her third straight in Florida stakes competition and sent her bankroll for the season to $44,427. McDonald also co-owns the filly with Dan and Jacalyn Boddie.
"She sure has come a long way from not being able to get out of her own way when she got started this season," said McDonald after the race. "And she sure has come a long way since her first mile with me her just a couple of months ago -- 2:23 and a piece, if I'm not mistaken. She's fast and mannered and all that credit goes to my wife, Dona. When we got her, she was cantankerous and unruly and you couldn't even get a bridle on her. She had gotten bit and stepped on along the way but she got her to where she is today...so give the credit to Dona."
One other note about the event...the performance of Charis is noteworthy as this filly, who began the season with three straight wins, has come upon some hard times on the racetrack and, last night, was beaten 231 lengths after a miscue leaving and timed in 2:48.2 for her mile. About that, Hennessey reflected, "Well, you can look at it this way: It was like winning a $7,500 walkover and it still goes a long way in paying the bills to get a youngster to the races with all the training and upkeep and vet necessities."
Other Super Night Notes
Trainer Jake Huff had a Super Night Stakes training triple on the card, driver Wally Hennessey had a driving triple and owner Herman Brewer had sole ownership or part ownership in a trio of winners.
The $14,200 Open Handicap Pace went to Maxdaddy Blue Chip, driven by trainer Rick Plano for owner/wife Maryann.
The nine-year-old gelded son of Sportswriter led every stride of the 1:51.2 mile carding fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:23.1 along the way to score by a half-length over the fastest closing Busboy Hanover (John MacDonald), with Scootnroll (Braxten Boyd) another neck back in third. Actor Hanover was fourth while When You Dance picked up the nickel in the classy sextet.
The win was number six of the season for Maxdaddy Blue Chip, sending his 2021 earnings to $83,187 and lifetime bankroll to $435,699.
He paid $3.80 as the public choice.
The $12,600 Open II was won by Alluneedisfaith N, scoring for Braxten Boyd in 1:51.4.
The seven-year-old altered son of Art Major led gate-to-wire and used a devastating :54.4 final half to pin a close defeat on Agedchadar Hanover (John MacDonald), with Prairie Panther (Hennessey) next over Statement Made and Art Scene.
The win vaulted Alluneedisfaith's earnings over the $100,000 plateau for the year -- now standing at $104,890 for the Robert Cooper Stables, co-owmer with trainer Jared Cooper.
Off at 7-5, the winner paid $4.80 to win.
The fastest mile of the night went to Peter Dalt, who scored in 1:51.1 for Ricky Macomber Jr. in the $11,000 Open III Pace.
The five-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image got picture perfect handling in the garden spot before rallying late to score by a scant nose over Warrawee Veloce (Kevin Wallis), with Lincoln James (Hennessey) next. Dealt A Winner and Pannocchio also earned minor awards in the field of six.
Trained by Jamie Macomber for La Bella Vita Stables, Peter Dalt paid $9 as second choice in the wagering.
Racing continues on Monday with a competitive card featuring a $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (industry low 12 per cent takeout) and a Super Hi-5 jackpot approaching $30,000. Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)