Pompano Beach, FL…March 28, 2015…Northern Companion, off at 26 to 1, scored the upset victory in Pompano Park's $15,400 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night, covering the mile in 1:51.2. The seven year-old son of Cambest, trained by Howard Klohr and driven by Dave Ingraham for owner Dorothy Zarza, stormed home from sixth at the top of the stretch to score a win measuring three-quarters of a length over P L Hellcat with Dan Clements handling the lines. Panocchio, making his initial start of the 2015 campaign, finished third for Bruce Ranger, but was disqualified for a pylon violation and set back to eighth, allowing Duc Dorleans, to move up one notch to third after cutting fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:23.
Cruizin K C was also moved up a spot to fourth after putting heavy pressure on the leader around the final turn. Do Wop Hanover, also making his 2015 debut was also moved up a spot to catch the nickel.
The field was cut to nine with the scratch of Remissionofsins.
In a post race interview, Driver Dave Ingraham lamented, "My horse (Northern Companion) can really turn it on late, especially off of some hot fractions. Actually, when Remissionofsins was scratched, I thought that might hurt us a little bit because that one can really sizzle early and possibly set things up for closers. But it all worked out for us and I am thrilled for Howie (trainer Klohr) and, especially, Dotty (owner Zarza).
For Northern Companion, it was his third success of the year in seven starts, sending his 2015 bounty to $18,088. He's banked $257,185 lifetime.
His win payoff of $54.80 was, by far, the largest in his 40 lifetime victories.
In Pompano's $10,000 Open "2" Pace, Steelhead Hanover, again confidently handled by trainer Joe Pavia, Jr., scored another handy victory in "carbon copy" fashion from last week's open lengths win.
The six year-old son of Bettor's Delight, scoring last week in 1:49.2 by 4 3/4 lengths, hit the wire 5 1/4 lengths to the good in 1:50 on this night, after carving out front end panels of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:22.1 along the way. Cadillac Phil and Mike Micallef teamed up for place honors while Cartoonist, in the garden spot all the way with Wally Hennessey, finished third, 5 1/2 lengths away. Twin B Speedo finished fourth while Prairie Jaguar picked up the nickel.
In a post race interview, driver Joe Pavia, Jr. said, "It was, pretty much, a carbon copy of last week's win. He's very sharp now and, again, when we hit the backside, he just went into another gear, I really didn't realize that he was going that much during that third quarter–:26.3–but he did the same thing last week, too. He's just doing it so comfortably. He's amazing!"
Owned by the consortium of Steven Held, AGC Stables, Dijo Racing and Joseph Barbera, Steelhead Hanover is now 2 for 3 this year and 18 for 70 lifetime with $494,270 in career bounty to go along with a mark of 1:48.3 last year at Pocono Downs.
As the overwhelming 1 to 5 choice on the tote-board, Steelhead Hanover paid $2.40 to win.
Multiple Carryovers Fuel Big Sunday Night at Pompano
Gold Star Spike (Aaron Byron) rallied from last to get his nose up on the wire in Saturday night’s 5th race, returning $129.60 for the win and keying a $2,631 exacta. The longshot was part of the Pick 4 and Pick 5, ensuring carryovers in both wagers into the Sunday night card.
The 50-Cent Pick 5 features a carryover of $1,842 into Sunday night, with track officials placing a $7,500 guarantee on the total pool. The 50-Cent Pick 5 is a nightly wager featured on Races 2 – 6.
The 50-Cent Pick 4 will begin with a $2,662 carryover on Sunday, with track officials placing a $15,000 guarantee on the total pool. The Pick 4 is a nightly wager featured on Races 5 – 8.
Longshot Northern Companion (David Ingraham), returned a healthy $54.80 to take Saturday night’s finale, but there were two winning tickets out on the Jackpot Hi-Five with the 20-cent consolation returning $1,626.66. The Jackpot Hi-Five carryover into Sunday night is up to $73,551.
Live racing continues at the Isle Casino Pompano Park on a four night per week schedule, with a first post of 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings.
by John Berry for Pompano Park