Pompano Beach, FL --- On Monday's (Dec. 29) program at Pompano Park, fillies and mares were in the spotlight with Pure Barre taking the $13,000 Open Handicap Trot for the distaffers while Winbak Heavenly captured the $12,500 Open Handicap Pace for the ladies.
Pure Barre, driven by Mickey McNichol, making her first pari-mutuel start in two months, was given a masterful drive by veteran Mickey McNichol to score a decision measuring 1-1/4 lengths over Reverie Devictoire (Wally Hennessey) in 1:55.3. Tweet Me (Dave Ingraham) finished third while the 8-5 tote board favorite, Trot Fudge Sundae, finished fourth. McTiny's Hope picked up the nickel after brushing from fourth on the backside to move on even terms with Pure Barre around the final turn.
Pure Barre left alertly enough from the two post but was out-brushed by Reverie Devictoire to an opening quarter in :28.2 -- but not for long. Out again after the latter settled on the front end, Pure Barre re-took the lead and reached the half in :57.4.
On the backside with heat from the competition intensifying, Pure Barre was stubborn through a :27.4 third panel, fighting first with the aforementioned McTiny's Hope and finally with both Reverie Devictoire and Tweet Me in deep stretch as those two tried to close in -- but couldn't.
In a post race interview, driver Mickey McNichol said, "Yes, I was surprised that she went this kind of a mile off of a 1:59 qualifier but she is very classy and fights a game battle every time she starts. She really got tightened up during this mile as she can rattle home in :28 and a piece when she's really at the top of her game!"
Owned and trained by Tom Gonsalves, Purse Barre won for the fifth time in only nine starts this year, pushing her seasonal bankroll to $33,280. She's banked $213,145 during her career through 99 lifetime starts. As the third choice in the wagering pool, Pure Barre paid $7.60 to win.
Winbak Heavenly, handled by Peter Wrenn, snuck through along the pylons to capture the top pace for the fillies and mares, scoring by three-parts of a length over the late charging De Vins Girl (Rick Plano) in 1:52.1. The pacesetting Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) was third after cutting panels of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.2 before succumbing to both Winbak Heavenly and De Vins Girl, the latter choosing the outside route. Mach Me Not finished fourth while Mach It A Par finished fifth in the sextet.
After the race, driver Peter Wrenn said, "She's been giving a few hints of returning to her solid October form and we did get fortunate in finding some room along the inside. She went a great mile; relaxed during the early stages and ready when she had the opportunity. She's a nice, young mare."
Owned by Barbara Jensen and trained by Mike Deters, Winbak Heavenly won for the sixth time in 25 starts this year, sending her seasonal bankroll to $37,868. She has $182,382 on her card lifetime. As fourth choice in betting, Winbak Heavenly returned $11.60 to her faithful.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 wager featured multiple winners again on Monday night pushing the carryover to $17,483 for Tuesday night's 11-race program.
That exotic wager must have a single ticket winner to capture the entire pool, otherwise consolation payoffs are awarded with the carryover continuing to grow.
Racing continues Tuesday night with the aforementioned Super Hi-5 carryover and an Open Handicap Trot featuring a $2 million field including the $505,000 winner Baby Boy Grin, the $385,000 winner Coco Lindy and Warrawee Promesse, a $100,000 winner in 2014 in only 14 starts. Post time is 7:30 p.m.