With a $58,000 guaranteed Pick-5 Pool highlighting the Monday program at Pompano Park, the "Send It In Army" responded in droves and resulted in several huge payoffs from start to finish.
Ivar Hyngstrom's Blue Devil kicked things off in the featured $12,600 Open II Trot, taking advantage of miscues along the way by the two favourites to take top honours in 1:55.2.
The four-year-old gelded son of Anders Bluestone emerged with the win with a :28.1 finale to hit the wire a length up on the longest proposition on the board, Crossfit Mouse (Corey Braden), with Keegan Ho (Fern Paquet, Jr.) next over Enzio. The two chalks, the Lionking AS at even-money, and second choice, Keystone Apache at 8-5, made miscues while on their respective leads during the mile leaving the door open for the upset.
At the outset, The Lionking AS zipped off the wings into a long lead early and took the field to the opening panel in :27.3 with Blue Devil in the garden spot and Crossfit Mouse third. Meanwhile, Keystone Apache, unhurried early, began marching forward and reached second halfway through in a rated :57.3.
On the backside, The Lionking AS made an uncharacteristic miscue enabling Keystone Apache to open up a seemingly insurmountable lead of six lengths past the third station in 1:25.3 with Blue Devil and Crossfit Mouse next.
Once they straightened away, Keystone Apache went up in the air enabling the Blue Devil-Crossfit Mouse-Keegan Ho finish.
The win was the third straight for Blue Devil as he stepped up to the Open class for the first time to send his seasonal bankroll to $26,368 and lifetime earnings to $163,344.
Off at 7-1, Blue Devil paid $16.40 to win.
With subsequent winners Gemologist ($5.60), SBD Corazon ($9.40), Princess Royal (24.60) and Lion On Landon ($24) following, the 50-cent Pick-5 combination of 2-5-7-6-2 returned $20,719.50 to three astute members of the "Send It In Army."
Lion On Landon, incidentally, also extended his winning streak to three for owner/trainer Nick Coblentz with Rick Plano in the bike on all three occasions while returning mutuels of $32.60, $37 and $24 along the way.
The fireworks continued right to the Super Hi-5 finale as Tony Kerwood piloted Pick Six to a narrow win at odds of 28-1, enabling an exacta of $1,041.20, a trifecta of $6,326.60 and a 20-cent superfecta of $3,638.22. There was nary a single Super Hi-5 ticket on the 1-10-9-7-4 combo with that carryover for Tuesday inflating to $10,650.50.
Also, the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association's Rosie Huff was honoured for her quarter century of meritorious service to that organization and its membership. Past FSBOA Presidents Joe Pennacchio and Dein Spriggs, along with Tom Eichas, made the presentation with Pennacchio and Spriggs echoing each others sentiments saying, "You would have to look far and wide to find any individual with the dedication and caring of Rosie Huff. She's one in a million!"
Racing continues on Tuesday with a $15,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick-4, further bolstered by an industry low 12 per cent takeout. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)