Wild Wanda tames foes

Pompano Beach, FL…January 1, 2018…Wild Wanda, perfectly rated by Ricky Macomber, Jr., tamed her harness racing foes with a 1:52.4 win in Pompano Park's $11,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Sunday night.

The gallant seven year-old daughter of Palone Ranger, drawing a post one slot inside of her main rival, All Charged Up, driven by John MacDonald, used that draw to her advantage as she left with alacrity this night then yielded briefly to the latter before reclaiming the top spot with a sharp quarter move.

The winning margin was a half length at the line with Sue's Night Out, with Wally Hennessey in the bike, third after a ground saving journey from her inside post position. Northern Dali was fourth while Machin Marley rounded out the order of finish after a brief backside bid.

As the Silver Bullet left the station, Wild Wanda, in a change of strategy from last week's debut when she was two lengths off the gate at the start, was out very alertly as All Charged Up also surged up from the opening bell into an early lead.

Not content with the garden seat, Wild Wanda was out and driving just short of the tepid :28 opening panel and into the lead, taking the field through a half in :56.2.

An identical :56.2 final half was in the cards and, after the third station was reached in 1:24.2, Wild Wanda was on her way home with a :28.2 finale with All Charged Up surging late but the issue was never in doubt.

Trainer Jamie Macomber had high praise for the mare reflecting, "She does have a high turn of speed leaving but, unlike last week where we were outside of All Charged Up, we drew inside and that changed the whole picture of the race."

Driver Ricky Macomber, Jr. echoed her sentiments saying, "I sent her tonight because I didn't want to spot John's great mare (All Charged Up) four or five lengths because she is awfully tough on the front end. But so is my mare!"

Owned by Mary Jo Rheinheimer along with the Dojea Stables, Wild Wanda kicked off her 2018 with the win after a 2017 campaign which saw her win $102,250. She now has career earnings of $431,865 to go along with her Hoosier Park mark of 1:50.2.

As the 3 to 5 favorite, Wild Wanda paid $3.40 to win.

Racing continues Tuesday night with a Super Hi-5 carryover that has ballooned to $46,698.

Post time is 7:20.

by John Berry for Pompano Park