Pompano Beach, FL…October 12, 2015…Godiva Seelster, the outstanding five year-old daughter of Camluck, looks for a repeat win in Tuesday's Open 1 Handicap Pace for mares at Pompano Park.
Trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O'Neil, this ultra-consistent mare got picture perfect handling by Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey to secure her 11th win of the year last week–wire to wire–over the late surging Just A Bee in 1:53 to send her lifetime bounty over the $200,000 mark–$201,592 to be exact.
She has been assigned the outside seven post in the "million dollar" field.
Godiva also will be looking to extend her streak of getting purse checks, currently at 67 races encompassing her entire career as a three, four and, thus far, five year-old season.
She has been made the slight 8 to 5 favorite in Pompano Park's morning line.
Listed at 9 to 5 is Just a Bee, trained and driven by Mike Micallef for Anita Micallef, John Mc Goff and Greg Heath.
This seven year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood, with the fastest mark in the field at 1:50.3, has won a dozen races this semester and over $106,000.
Her :27 final panel fell a half length short last week.
Just A Bee will leave from post six on Tuesday night.
The richest performer in the field, Mach Me Not, trained by Jim Mc Donald for the S S G Stables, looks to add to her career total of $345,046 after her three race winning streak was interrupted last week with an "off-the-board" finish in her first start back since late June.
Andy Santeramo will handing the nine year-old's lines from post two.
Winbak Heavenly, trained by the Mike Deters for owner Barbara Jensen, looks to climb up yet another rung on the ladder after a brilliant 1:52.4 win in Open 2 company a week ago.
This five year-old daughter of American Ideal will have the driving services of Aaron Byron from post three.
Cam Funny, Mach It A Par and Togetherforever complete the talented field.
F.S.B.O.A Stakes action continues, as well, as four Sunshine State Stakes events will also be contested.
Two developing rivalries highlight those events with Caesar's Forum and Owosso Flash locking hooves in the three year-old colt/gelding pace and Conman's Dream facing Gleneagles in the juvenile pace for the colts and geldings.
Last week, Caesar's Forum, trained by Marc Aubin for Amante Standardbreds, took advantage of the rail post position to wire the competition in 1:55-:28 for Wally Hennessey, this after Owosso Flash suffered interference early but recovering to pace his final 3/4s under 1:25 to miss by a half length.
Conman's Dream, trained by Mike Deters for owner Jason Mac Dougall, made his racing debut for Deters a winning one with a 2:00.4 triumph, highlighted by a final panel in :27.4
Gleneagles, meanwhile, has five lifetime starts under his girth and while he is winless in pari-mutuel action, he does come into the event with a "Q" mark of 1:55.1 at Pocono.
A growing Super Hi-5 jackpot is also on tap in the finale, that carry over now over $4,300.
Post time is 7:30.
by John Berry for Pompano Park