Pompano Beach, FL…March 24, 2021…Prairie Westerngal and In Secret were victorious at Pompano Park as the South Florida famed five-eighths mile harness racing oval presented twin $11,000 features on Tuesday (March 23).
Prairie Westerngal, a five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, was driven to victory by Wally Hennessey in the Mares Open Handicap Pace and toured the mile in 1:53, defeating the late charging Casie’s Believer (Joe Chindano, Jr.) by three-parts-of-a-length. Crisp Mane (David Miller) was third, two lengths away, while Evas Sports Czech and Ask Me Ifi Care completed the quintet.
As the wings folded, Prairie Westerngal used her usual sprinting alacrity from her outside post to take immediate command and zip an opening quarter of :26.2 Ask Me Ifi I Care second, Crisp Mane third, Evas Sports Czech fourth and Casie’s Believer trailing.
With no immediate threats looming, Hennessey gave a relaxed Prairie Westerngal a breather and got to the half in :56.1. The pace did pick up on the backside as Crisp Mane made a bid from third and got within a length of the leader at the third station in 1:24.1. In the lane, Prairie Westerngal drew clear once again as only Casie’s Believer was able to do any serious denting through an official final panel of :28.4.
PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL REPLAY
After the race, Hennessey lamented, “She sure knows how to push the gate out of her way. She’s really sharp right now and Mike (trainer Deters) has her razor sharp. She is a very determined mare.”
Trainer Mike Deters co-owns the mare with Laurie Poulin and Fritz Racing and now sports a 3-3-1 scorecard in 10 starts this semester, good for $27,950. She’s banked $171,903 lifetimne.
As the 4 to 5 favorite, Prairie Westerngal paid $3.60 to win.
Roughly 25 minutes later, Deters completed the training sweep of the early Daily Double as Burn Notice, driven by Braxton Boyd, put on a gritty performance in scoring a photo finish win in the $10,000 Open II Trot.
The six year-old gelded son of Cayenne Turbo marched up from first over on the backside to engage the leader around the final bend, took charge once straightened away and held off Stick With Me Kid (Wally Hennessey) by a head. Favored Sooo Handsome (Rick Plano) finished third after making a miscue early in the mile and dropped back to last half way through.
The Lionking AS was fourth while Joey Pro picked up the final award in the septet.
BURN NOTICE REPLAY
Owned by WHR Trust, Burn Notice earned his second straight win and third of the year in sending his 2021 bounty to $117,390. As fourth choice in the betting at 9 to 1, Burn Notice paid $21.60 to win to complete the $39.00 early daily double.
In the $11,000 Open Handicap Trot, In Secret, with David Miller in her sulky, scored a handy win in 1:54, her winning margin 1½ lengths over Born To Thrive (Rick Plano) with BJ Lorado (Braxton Boyd), the longest proposition on the board, third. Northern Skyway and Serenity Cruise also earned awards in the field of six.
In Secret, away in good order fourth, made a quarter move after the :27.2 opener and went on to post numbers of :56.2 and 1:25 before remaining unscathed during her :29 second closer.
Trained by Devan Miller for owner Sylvia Burke, In secret, a nine year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe, won for the 44th time during an illustrious career which boasts earnings of $881,628. Hardly a “secret” to the bettors, In Secret paid $2.80 to win.
IN SECRET REPLAY
In the $10,000 Open II Pace for Mares, Tempus Seelster, confidently driven by John MacDonald, enjoyed a slight dip in class to score a handy win in 1:52.3.
The eight year-old daughter of Big Jim took command a stride or two past the :27.4 opening marker and proceeded on hitting beams of :56.1 and 1:24.2 before sealing the issue with a :28.1 finale to score by almost three lengths over the late charging Beach Journey (David Miller). She’sgotitgoingon (Don Harmon), the roan mare making her first start in over a month, finished third, just a lip off second, while Image Of A Dream, the early leader, finished fourth. Persistent Bettor picked up the nickel in the field of seven.
Trained by Rob Rittof for Dandy Farms Racing and the FT Racing Stable, Tempus Seelster won of the third time this year and 39th career-wise to send her lifetime earnings to $338,021. Off at 1 to 2, Tempus Seelster paid $3.00 to win.
Also of note, one of the new budding stars in the Rick Plano Stable, Flagman, extended his winning streak to three since his arrival earlier this month with a 1:55.3 win as he stepped up the ladder once more to Open III company.
The four year-old gelded son of Guccio trotted his final 3/4s in 1:25.4 coming from well off the pace to score by a widening two lengths.
Rick Plano, who recently reached the $20,000,000 milestone in training bounty to go along with over $30,000,000 in the driving ranks, also trains Guccio for Maryann Plano. Plano ois also approaching yet another milestone as he edges closer to 4,000 lifetime training wins.
Driver David Miller had another grand slam on the program, driving Penn ($3.60), Beach Forecast ($2.40) and Roll With Angel ($2.60) to popular victories in addition to the aforementioned In Secret.
Racing continues on Thursday night with a $15,000 guarantee on the Pick-4 offering (with an industry low 12% takeout) and a Super Hi-5 jackpot approaching $100,000–$98,428.71 to be precise.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
For full results, click here.
by John Berry, for Pompano Park