Home team crushes in Pompano Driver Challenge

Pompano Beach, FL — The Drivers Challenge featuring the best harness racing drivers from Pompano Park against some of the best from around the world concluded on Wednesday night (March 16) at the South Florida oval with the home team emerging with a 127-87 triumph in the two nights, eight race event.

With a 63-44 edge going into the Wednesday night action, the “home team” consisting of Captain Wally Hennessey, David Miller, Peter Wrenn and Kevin Wallis, took the top spot in all four remaining events to secure the bragging rights with Wrenn leading the way with a pair of wins with Miller and Wallis putting the icing on the cake.

Team Gingras had Dexter Dunn, Andrew McCarthy and James MacDonald on his roster looking to rally after the first four rounds on Tuesday night.

Wrenn’s wins came in the first and final leg of the well-attended event, scoring with Doyoukissfirstdate ($5.00) in the opener in a lifetime best 1:54.4 and Ethan ($39.40) in the finale in 1:56.4, also a lifetime mark.

Miller scored with Maggiesmomoney ($7.00), using backside blitz to take charge before going on to win in 1:56.4, also shredding her previous best.

Wallis joined the home team fray with Prairie Cougar ($7.80), giving her a seasonal best mark of 1:52.2.

Here’s a brief recap of the action:

Driver Wrenn said, “I saw on her lines that she has some speed off the gate, so I decided to send her a bit. We got some cover right around the opening quarter and we had a very nice trip, although I didn’t have much room until late. But it all worked out and she raced very well. It was nice to be able to contribute to our home team.”

Doyoukissfirstdate is trained and owned by Leopold Sawyers and proved to be a nice birthday present to celebrate his milestone 70th.

DOYOUKISSFIRSTDATE REPLAY

After the 10-7-5-3-1 scoring was concluded for the round, Team Hennessey extended their lead to 81-52.

Maggiesmomoney got away third from her rail post position and was sent on a launch just prior to the :58.1 half.

On the backside, this 4-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe used a brush to secure the top spot and never looked back. Chocouture (MacDonald) finished second while Savin Rock (Dunn) was third. Deli-Craze (Gingras) was next with Legend Field (Wrenn) picking up the nickel and the one point.

Driver Miller said, “To tell you the truth, I was kind of surprised at her sprinting power tonight. When I tilted her out, I was just hoping to grind away, but she was into a full sprint. She was really impressive tonight.”

Maggiesmomoney is trained by Stacey Laviolette for the Horse With No Name stable and earned her third win of the year.

MAGGIESMOMONEY REPLAY

After Round Six, the home team had a 92-67 advantage.

Driver Wallis used different tactics for Prairie Cougar, a 6-year-old daughter of Royel Millennium, by sending her forward from the get-go and assuming the lead just after the opening panel in a hot :27.2. Once on top, she plowed through panels of :55.3 and 1:23.4 before a :28.3 sprint home sealed the deal over Fox Valley Tinka (Hennessey) with Elm Grove Nellie (MacDonald) third. Northern Dali was fourth for Gingras while Hypnotic Racer (McCarthy) was fifth.

Driver Wallis said, “This mare had a pretty good resume in the win column and I thought she fit pretty well here so I decided to send her. She seemed to be were she wanted to be — on the front — and didn’t let up an ounce at any time. She was very sharp and I am glad that I was able to add to that win resume I mentioned before.”

Trained by Joe Pavia Jr. for Joe Pavia Jr. Stable Inc., Jeffrey Hess and Nicholas Gampietro Jr., Prairie Cougar now has 19 wins in her 79 career starts, good for $145,952.

PRAIRIE COUGAR REPLAY

With Round Seven in the books, the score was 109-76 in favor of the home team.

Driver Wrenn said, “Well, this was a very pleasant way to end the competition and I am very happy for Leopold (Sawyers) as this puts icing on the cake for his 70th birthday. We got a great trip and though the fractions were pretty lively for the class, he responded like a good horse does.”

Trained by Sawyers, who co-owns with John Baird, Carol Grant, and John Grant, Ethan got his fourth lifetime win in only 16 starts.

ETHAN REPLAY

Final total: Home Team – 127, Visiting Team – 87.

All of the participants came to the winner’s circle after the final round with visiting Team Captain Gingras remarking, “It was great being in South Florida. The hospitality was outstanding and we all were pleased to participate at a track as historic as this one.”

For full race results, click here.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park