Hennessy slams, Rice trainee hits big milestone

Pompano Beach, FL., March 30, 2022… Hall of Fame harness racing driver Wally Hennessey and road warrior China Dream shared the limelight at Pompano Park on Tuesday night as Hennessey hit a grand slam in the win column and China Dream notched a milestone 50th career win.

Hennessey, with 11,190 career wins, notched his 84th win this young season and 177th for the 2021-2022 meeting in South Florida. It was his second consecutive program where he won four races on the card and included American Delight N ($2.40), Rockntouch ($10.20), Rose Run Wildcat ($3.80) and Harry Terror ($3.80).

China Dream, the 11 year-old gelded son of If I Can Dream, notched his milestone win in the Super Hi-5 finale for Jack Rice, who rarely makes an appearance in the bike these days.

Dipping into the Trackmaster class for the first time, China Dream was given picture perfect handling by Rice and used a :28.3 finale to wear down a stubborn Rope The Moon (David Miller) turning for home in a mile clocked in 1:54.1. China Dream now has banked $412,193 in a career stretching 254 starts.

CHINA DREAM REPLAY

For Rice, it was his 1,472nd career win in the bike but, as mentioned, rarely makes a pari-mutuel appearance.

China Dream rewarded his faithful with a $20.00 win bonanza.

In reflecting on the milestone win, the always tongue-in-cheek Rice said, “Well, I think we’ll celebrate the China Dream milestone and the rare Rice win with a trip to the Chinese Take Out place across the street from the track. After all, it’s named the “Fried RICE Kitchen!”

Also on Tuesday, both Don’t Chip Me and Casie’s Believer were in-to-go–both participants in the highly anticipated Aiello-Prewett match race scheduled for Monday.

While Ask Me Ifi Care and Mike Micallef captured that event, both Aiello and Prewitt entrants performed very admirably with Casie’s Believer (Prewitt’s entrant) and Don’t Chip Me were second and third in that mile, respectively. Ironically, both went off at 9 to 5 on the toteboard with Ask Me Ifi Care paying $8.40 on the win end.

After the event, both Monday night participants in the “Battle for the Rattle” commented with Prewitt saying, “I’m not sure about my strategy going in. It kind of depends on the draw but I’ll either go to the top and control things of be satisfied with a two-hole trip. Either way, I will leave Aiello in the dust!”

In response, Aiello said, “You know, I hear all the hogwash that Prewitt keeps saying and, judging from this race that just went with both of them, I think she’s ready to rock and roll, especially with a driver with my talent and hands in the bike. It’s curtains for Prewitt!”

The event is likely to raise a substantial amount of money for charity as proceeds from the event will benefit equine aftercare after racehorses are retired.

The final Wednesday is next on the Pompano Park agenda with a $15,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick-4, further highlighted by an industry low 12% take-out and a Super Hi-5 finale with a ballooning jackpot of $112,918. The program will also feature a rare pentafecta carryover for the 4th race with that pool beginning with $4,683 since no tickets were sold on the 7-6-1-9-5 combination on Tuesday.

Post time for the Wednesday card is 7:20 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park