Rebellious hangs tough at Pompano

Rebellious, again handled by Wally Hennessey for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner, scored in the $11,000 feature for the pacers in 1:51.4, using a :27.1 finale to hold Alluneedisfaith N (Mike Simons), safe by a length on the wire. Seeing Eye Single (David Miller) was third, 2 ½ lengths away after an evenly rated effort while Skip To My Lou finished fourth. Ideal Feeling picked up the nickel after a first up backside bid reaching third around the final bend.

Rebellious, a seven year-old gelded son of Mach Three, took charge around the opening turn and set fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.3 along the way to score his third win in four 2021 starts and 44th success in a career that has seen his lifetime bounty vault to $340,206 with this win.

In a post-race interview, driver Hennessey lamented, "Mike (trainer Deters) has him razor sharp. He's a great horse and, when I got to the half in :56.3, I felt really confident since he went to the half in :55 and a piece last week and won. It was just another typical, great performance for him."

In echoing Hennessey, trainer Deters said, "I thought he raced awesome tonight. He's got great gate speed and coasted to the front pretty easily. That breather in the second quarter helped–you know Wally has a stopwatch in his head–and sprinted the last half!"

As the slight favorite at even money on the board (Skip To My Lou was 6 to 5). Rebellious paid $4.20 to his multitude of faithful.

In Secret took top honors in the companion $11,500 Open Handicap Trot as driver David Miller took this nine year-old altered son of Deweycheatumnhowe to the front an eighth into the mile and posted times of $27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.3, sealing the issue with a final :28.4 panel to hold off the very fast closing Sooo Handsome (Rick Plano) by a neck in 1:54.2.

The pocket-sitting 13 year-old Cantab Lindy (Jon MacDonald) and Gemologist (Andy Santeramo) tied for third with My Uncle Cuz picking up the minor award in the classy septet.

Trained by Devan Miller for owner Sylvia Burke, In Secret sent his lifetime bankroll roaring to $873,253 with the win–the 43rd of his career.

Off at 3 to 5, In Secret paid $3.20 to win.

Other notable performances on Monday included a $10,000 Open II Pace win by Sgt Papa Daddy in 1:52.1 and a 1:55.4 score for BJ Lorado in the companion $10,000 Open II Trot.

Sgt Papa Daddy ($13.40) eked out a photo finish win by a neck for John MacDonald over the favorite Stone Hanover (Peter Wrenn) to send his lifetime victory total to 36 and earnings to $263,998. The seven year-old gelded son of Rockin Image is trained by Brandy Wine for the J P Stables.

The millionaire pacer with 100 lifetime wins Southwind Amazon (Braxton Boyd) was a fast closing third in this event while Real Peace and Unlikeanyother were next in the octet.

BJ Lorado's late lunge right on the wire earned him the nose decision for David Miller over EV's Girl (Joe Chindano, Jr.) with Simply Volo (Wally Hennessey), who led much of the way, was third in this "bang-bang" finish. Keegan Ho and Tech Titan were next.

BJ Lorado, a seven year-old gelding by Bo W, has 26 career wins and earnings of $181,433. He's trained by Marc Major for Michael and Diane Norcross.

He paid $10.20 to win.

Also, La Rockin Sampson, a recent claim for $20,000 and now in the stable of Ken Holliday, scored his second straight win in the $10,000 ($20,000-$30,000) Claiming Handicap–he was in for $27,000–by scoring a near gate-to-wire win in 1:52.

Trained by Holliday, who co-owns with Todd Liebman and Allan Alkes, La Rockin Sampson, a five year-old gelding by Rockin Image, was off at 6 to 1–the same as he was last week–and paid $14.20 to win.

The identical event for trotters went to Timon AS–his second straight win–in 1:54.2.

Confidentally handled by Peter Wrenn, this five year-old son of Lionhunter roared from last half way through the mile, went on a double-bubble binge 3/8ths from home and went on to score a length-and-a-half decision over the pacesetting Boinganator (Kevin Wallis) with Cartier Zette (Mike Simons) third. Impactor and Mister Muscle followed in the septet.

Trained by Melanie Wrenn for owner Michael Guest, Timon AS earned his 18th career success in 50 career starts to send his lifetime earnings to $93,010. Surprisingly, Timon AS, who won last week at 3 to 5 in this same class, was off at 9 to 5 this time around and paid $5.60.

Another noteworthy performance was that of track record holder Panocchio, who reached the winner's circle for the 73rd time during his illustrious career. The now 11 year-old gelded son of No Pan Intended scored in 1:52.3 for Wally Hennessey, who was in the bike for trainer Jim Mattison, co-owner with wife Vicki and Emile Johnson.

It was the 47th success for Panocchio over Pompano's five-eighths mile oval. The slight favorite at 6 to 5, Panocchio paid $4.60 to win.

The comeback for the near million dollar winner Funknwaffles ($965,624 coming in) continued on Monday night as this now seven year-old gelded son of American Ideal scored in 1:51 for David Miller in a gritty mile going first up on the backside and squeaking by a game Lyons Night Hawk (John MacDonald) by a neck.

Trained by Tony Alagna, making his first start ever at Pompano Park, Funknwaffles is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and paid $3.20 to win.

Finally, Millennial, driven by Joe Chindano, Jr., won the Super Hi-5 finale at 38 to1 and keyed a 1-4-3-7-2 combo that lead to a $100,453.86 payday bonanza for one fortunate member of the "Send-It-In" army.

Handle for the night, once again, eclipsed the million dollar mark with $1,064,366 wagered on the 12 race program.

Racing continues on Tuesday night with a Pick-6 carryover of $2,710 and a $20,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick-4, which begins in race 6.

For full results, click here.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park