DGs Caviar stretched his winning streak at Pompano Park to four with a convincing win for trainer-driver Andy Shetler in 1:53 — a new lifetime mark — in the $11,500 Open Handicap Trot on Monday night (Dec. 28).
The four-year-old son of Prime Time Caviar, bred and owned by Daniel Graber, put a margin of 3-3/4 lengths between himself and Muscles For Life (Wally Hennessey) while The Lionking AS (Kevin Wallis) finished third, eight lengths away. Born To Thrive finished fourth, with BJ Lorado picking up the nickel in the classy septet.
Explosivebreakaway, the 6-to-5 favourite, made a miscue leaving to lose all opportunity.
As the wings folded, BJ Lorado zipped off the wings from post two and put Celebrity Miracle, starting from the inside, in the pocket behind him and ripped through first half panels of :27 and :56 with Muscles For Life settling in third and DGs Caviar finding a spot in fourth.
On the backside, Muscles For Life got the jump on DGs Caviar by brushing up to take charge at the third station in 1:24.4 with DGs Caviar also on the prowl about two lengths back.
In the lane, these two battled out until mid-stretch, when DGs Caviar exploded by with authority to put daylight under the moonlight at the wire.
In a post-race interview, Andy Shetler related, "I've been driving for about 30 years now and this is the best one I ever had. He's a fighter, he's tenacious, doesn't give up and is quite versatile now. He's won some on the front and, this time, he proved he can just bide his time until I ask him ... and, when I chirp to him, he's ready to put up a fight!"
Despite his winning skein coming in, DGs Caviar was the third choice on the board, having skipped a week coming in, to which Shetler explained, "I gave him a week off after his last win — just a week off. He deserved it and was better than ever in winning tonight!
For DGs Caviar, it was his sixth win of the year in 21 starts, good for $41,180 and $117,075 lifetime to go along with his new mark. He paid $9.60.
The $10,000 Open II Trot went to Bucketlist Hanover, with Kevin Wallis in his sulky for trainer Normand Dessureault and owner Paul-Andre d'Lehoux.
This seven-year-old altered son of Cantab Hall took charge early, yielded to the Ohio invader My Uncle Cuz (Don Harmon) through panels of :27.3 and :56.4, sat chilly on the backside as Majestic Fire (Jim Meittinis) applied pressure past the third station in 1:26.1, found a seam in the lane and roared home a half-length winner in 1:55.2.
My Uncle Cuz finished second over Majestic Fire while Sooo Handsome rallied to finish fourth. Keegan Ho picked up the scraps in the field of seven.
Bucketlist Hanover sent his career bounty over the $200,000 and paid $11.40 to win.
That score, his 25th lifetime, set up a huge scenario for the track's Tuesday night (Dec. 29) card as the win left the Pick-5 unscathed, resulting in a $19,215 carryover and a $100,000 guaranteed pool — the largest guarantee in the track's history — for the Tuesday Pick-5, which begins in the first race. Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)