Rosecroft and Pompano offer solid Sunday cards
While many sports enthusiasts were keen on watching another round of National Football League games on Sunday, harness racing fans were quick to watch the action on Rosecroft Raceway and Pompano Park, a pair of five-eighths mile ovals along the east coast had plenty to offer.
In the second race on the Sunday program at Rosecroft, B A Rocket (Russell Foster) overcame post seven and his 20-1 longshot status to gain command in a 27 flat opener, yielded to Dance On The Beach (Roger Plante, Jr.) before the half in 56 flat, awaited racing room down the backside and through the far, angled to the passing lane and got through late for a narrow score in 1:54. A sophomore son of Cam's Rocket owned and trained by Brian Callahan, B A Rocket has won two straight over the oval and lowered his lifetime mark by two seconds in the process.
Then just prior to the midway point of the card, Extreme Machine N (Frank Milby) benefited from a pocket trip behind In Record Time (Michael Greene) through the first three calls, angled out late far turn and narrowly prevailed as the even-money choice in 1:53.3. A six-year-old Mach Three gelding owned and trained by Jeff Clark, Extreme Machine N notched his fourth win from 29 starts this year and now owns a 17-21-16 slate and $165,000 banked from 140 career outings.
Just past the midway point of the card, Sawbuck Hanover (Sean Bier) lived up to his billing as the even-money choice in the non-winners of $6,000 last five starts class when he benefited from a pocket trip behind Go Big Spinder (Foster) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket at the head of the lane and just got up to score by a head in 1:52.4. An eight-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Bier, Sawbuck Hanover notched his second straight score against conditioned pacers over the oval and now owns a 5-4-4 slate and $71,500 banked from 28 starts this year.
Then one race later on the card, P L Hoofhearted (Milby) overcame a long, first over trip to forge a 12-1 upset in a non-winners of $4,000 last five starts class for older pacers. A seven-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Walter Birney, Jr. for owner Howard Birney, who celebrated a birthday in style on Sunday, notched his fourth win in 22 starts this year and now sports 30 wins and $182,000 banked from 151 lifetime tries and perhaps earned a berth in the Open I next weekend.
One race later in the Winners Over class for older pacers, Downthehighway (Allan Davis) benefited from a pocket trip behind All The Cookies (Tyler Davis) through the first three calls then nailed that one in the lane for a length score in 1:52. A five-year-old Dontgetinmyway stallion trained by Wayne Givens, Downthehighway recorded his fifth win from 22 starts this year and now owns a 17-17-8 slate and $404,000 banked from 91 career tries and likely earned a berth in the Open I next weekend.
Speaking of the $12,000 Open I, Al's Hammered (Allan Davis) lived up to his role as the tepid 5-2 favorite when he brushed to command well before the half in 56 flat, met token pressure from Hi Sir (Foster) down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.2 then just outlasted the late inside bid of Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) to score by a neck in 1:52.1. A nine-year-old gelding trained by Martin Davis for parents Eddie & Kathy Davis, Al's Hammered notched his second win in five starts at the meet and now owns six wins and $43,000 banked from 32 seasonal outings.
That same evening at Pompano Park, Natasha (Wally Hennessey) lived up to her role as the 2-5 favorite from the rail in a $12,000 Sunshine Stake final for two-year-old filly pacers when she benefited from a pocket trip behind 8-5 second choice Prairie Westerngal (Jim Meittinis) through the first three calls, angled out turning for home and got up late to score in 1:55.3. A juvenile daughter of Six Of Diamonds trained by Kim Sears for owner Jay Sears, Natasha now owns five wins from seven lifetime tries.
Then two races later in a $12,000 Sunshine Stake final for two-year-old colt pacers, Mister Marvalous (Hennessey) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he brushed to command before the half in 58.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:28.3 then romped home five lengths clear in 1:57. A juvenile son of Delmarvalous trained by Kim Sears for owner Jay Sears, Mister Marvalous notched his fifth win in 10 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $15,000.
Two races later in a non-winners of $3,500 last four starts class for older pacers, Windsun Gotham (Hennessey) easily lived up to his billing as the 3-5 favorite when he gained command in a 27.2 opener, got a breather to the half in 57.1, shook off token pressure down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.4 then held safe the late bid of pocket-sitting Dinky Dune (Mike Simons) for a two-length score in 1:53. A four-year-old American Ideal gelding trained by Michile Lorenzo, Windsun Gotham now owns a 3-6-1 slate and $46,400 banked from 23 starts this year.
Then two races later in the $8,000 Open II for older pacers, Rockntouch (Hennessey) lived up to his role as the tepid 3-2 favorite from post five when he gained command before the opener in 27 flat, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56 flat, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:23.4 then drew clear from Here Comes William (Donald Dupont) for a four-length score in 1:52.3. A six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding trained by Mickey McNichol, Rockntouch recorded his sixth win in 34 starts this year and earned a spot in the Open I next weekend.
Speaking of the $10,000 Open I Handicap for older pacers, one race later on the card Panocchio (Hennessey) gained command before a 26.4 opener, yielded to Lucan Hanover (John MacDonald) then immediately retook before the half in 55.4, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.2 the held safe Lucan Hanover in the lane for a length score in 1:52.3. In eight-year-old No Pan Intended gelding owned and trained by Jim Mattison, Panocchio now owns four wins and nearly $60,000 banked from 23 starts this year and boasts 62 wins and a $550,000 bankroll from 162 career outings.
In the second race on the Sunday program at Rosecroft, B A Rocket (Russell Foster) overcame post seven and his 20-1 longshot status to gain command in a 27 flat opener, yielded to Dance On The Beach (Roger Plante, Jr.) before the half in 56 flat, awaited racing room down the backside and through the far, angled to the passing lane and got through late for a narrow score in 1:54. A sophomore son of Cam's Rocket owned and trained by Brian Callahan, B A Rocket has won two straight over the oval and lowered his lifetime mark by two seconds in the process.
Then just prior to the midway point of the card, Extreme Machine N (Frank Milby) benefited from a pocket trip behind In Record Time (Michael Greene) through the first three calls, angled out late far turn and narrowly prevailed as the even-money choice in 1:53.3. A six-year-old Mach Three gelding owned and trained by Jeff Clark, Extreme Machine N notched his fourth win from 29 starts this year and now owns a 17-21-16 slate and $165,000 banked from 140 career outings.
Just past the midway point of the card, Sawbuck Hanover (Sean Bier) lived up to his billing as the even-money choice in the non-winners of $6,000 last five starts class when he benefited from a pocket trip behind Go Big Spinder (Foster) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket at the head of the lane and just got up to score by a head in 1:52.4. An eight-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Bier, Sawbuck Hanover notched his second straight score against conditioned pacers over the oval and now owns a 5-4-4 slate and $71,500 banked from 28 starts this year.
Then one race later on the card, P L Hoofhearted (Milby) overcame a long, first over trip to forge a 12-1 upset in a non-winners of $4,000 last five starts class for older pacers. A seven-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Walter Birney, Jr. for owner Howard Birney, who celebrated a birthday in style on Sunday, notched his fourth win in 22 starts this year and now sports 30 wins and $182,000 banked from 151 lifetime tries and perhaps earned a berth in the Open I next weekend.
One race later in the Winners Over class for older pacers, Downthehighway (Allan Davis) benefited from a pocket trip behind All The Cookies (Tyler Davis) through the first three calls then nailed that one in the lane for a length score in 1:52. A five-year-old Dontgetinmyway stallion trained by Wayne Givens, Downthehighway recorded his fifth win from 22 starts this year and now owns a 17-17-8 slate and $404,000 banked from 91 career tries and likely earned a berth in the Open I next weekend.
Speaking of the $12,000 Open I, Al's Hammered (Allan Davis) lived up to his role as the tepid 5-2 favorite when he brushed to command well before the half in 56 flat, met token pressure from Hi Sir (Foster) down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.2 then just outlasted the late inside bid of Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) to score by a neck in 1:52.1. A nine-year-old gelding trained by Martin Davis for parents Eddie & Kathy Davis, Al's Hammered notched his second win in five starts at the meet and now owns six wins and $43,000 banked from 32 seasonal outings.
That same evening at Pompano Park, Natasha (Wally Hennessey) lived up to her role as the 2-5 favorite from the rail in a $12,000 Sunshine Stake final for two-year-old filly pacers when she benefited from a pocket trip behind 8-5 second choice Prairie Westerngal (Jim Meittinis) through the first three calls, angled out turning for home and got up late to score in 1:55.3. A juvenile daughter of Six Of Diamonds trained by Kim Sears for owner Jay Sears, Natasha now owns five wins from seven lifetime tries.
Then two races later in a $12,000 Sunshine Stake final for two-year-old colt pacers, Mister Marvalous (Hennessey) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he brushed to command before the half in 58.1, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:28.3 then romped home five lengths clear in 1:57. A juvenile son of Delmarvalous trained by Kim Sears for owner Jay Sears, Mister Marvalous notched his fifth win in 10 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $15,000.
Two races later in a non-winners of $3,500 last four starts class for older pacers, Windsun Gotham (Hennessey) easily lived up to his billing as the 3-5 favorite when he gained command in a 27.2 opener, got a breather to the half in 57.1, shook off token pressure down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.4 then held safe the late bid of pocket-sitting Dinky Dune (Mike Simons) for a two-length score in 1:53. A four-year-old American Ideal gelding trained by Michile Lorenzo, Windsun Gotham now owns a 3-6-1 slate and $46,400 banked from 23 starts this year.
Then two races later in the $8,000 Open II for older pacers, Rockntouch (Hennessey) lived up to his role as the tepid 3-2 favorite from post five when he gained command before the opener in 27 flat, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56 flat, raced unpressed by three-quarters in 1:23.4 then drew clear from Here Comes William (Donald Dupont) for a four-length score in 1:52.3. A six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding trained by Mickey McNichol, Rockntouch recorded his sixth win in 34 starts this year and earned a spot in the Open I next weekend.
Speaking of the $10,000 Open I Handicap for older pacers, one race later on the card Panocchio (Hennessey) gained command before a 26.4 opener, yielded to Lucan Hanover (John MacDonald) then immediately retook before the half in 55.4, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:24.2 the held safe Lucan Hanover in the lane for a length score in 1:52.3. In eight-year-old No Pan Intended gelding owned and trained by Jim Mattison, Panocchio now owns four wins and nearly $60,000 banked from 23 starts this year and boasts 62 wins and a $550,000 bankroll from 162 career outings.
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