Pompano Beach, FL – On a historic Sunday evening (March 1) at Pompano Park, Wally Hennessey captured the “Masters of the Mile” title by besting seven of the greatest drivers in harness racing history.

Pompano Park Director of Racing Stacy Cahill and Race Secretary Joe Zambito congratulate Wally Hennessey on his triumphant night in the Masters of the Mile competition. Dee Leftwich Photo.

In the four race competition, with points awarded similarly to purse structure payments, Hennessey scored 113 points to edge out Bruce Ranger (79), David Miller (68), Tony Morgan (60), Peter Wrenn (41), Tim Tetrick (26), Dave Palone (22) and Kevin Wallis (19).

Hennessey opened the competition by taking the first half of the early Daily Double, guiding the 5-year-old Pet Rock horse Oberlin to victory in 1:54.1 at odds of 11-1.

Starting from the outside eight post, Hennessey found little choice but to take back at the start and was 10 lengths back of Too Much Duncan (Wrenn) who took the field to the opening quarter in :27.  Shortly thereafter, Dave Miller sent Danze to the top, tripping the timer at the half in :55.3.

On the backside, Dave Palone brushed Hugh Hefner to the front and that one took the field through the third station in 1:24.2 with Hennessey’s charge now sixth, fourth lengths off the top.  Once they straightened away, Oberlin got in high gear and rolled on by, holding off R Gauwitz Hanover (Tony Morgan) by a half length in to win in 1:54.1.  Too Much Duncan was third, Danza fourth and Hug Hefner crossed the wire in fifth.

Oberlin is trained by Gaston Lareau for owner Richard Lareau and paid $24.20.

In the next leg, Hennessey scored his second consecutive victory, guiding Marianne Ayers-McNichol’s Rockntouch to a gate-to-wire win breaking the beams in :27, :56 and 1:24.2 before crossing the wire in 1:53.1.

This 8-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven repelled serious bids around the final bend and through the lane to score by a half length over Itsnoproblemman (Ranger) with Byby Landon (Tetrick) another neck back in third. Stick With Cramer (Morgan) and Harry Terror (Miller) were next in the octet.

Off at even money on the toteboard, Rockntouch paid $4.20 to win and pushed his lifetime bounty over the $280,000 mark with his 38th career trip to the winner’s circle.

In the third leg (race six), Bruce Ranger had Always Glorious in high gear from the get-go, clocking sizzlers of :26.2, :53.2 and 1:21.3 while opening up a double-digit lead turning for home before coasting to a 1:52 win by 8-3/4 lengths over the late charging Keystone Steam (Morgan) and V Power (Wallis) with Classic Gent (Tetrick) and Fritzie Pic Up Man (Miller) rounding out the top five.

Trained by Rick Plano for owners Maryann Plano and Ernest Durse, Always Glorious, a 5-year-old altered son of Always A Virgin, paid $7.20 to win.

Going in to the finale (race seven), the competition for the top prize was whittled down to three with only Hennessey, Ranger and Morgan in the hunt for the “Masters of the Mile” title.

In an event that saw several lead changes throughout the mile journey, it was the David Miller driven Outkast Blue Chip who rallied in deep stretch to score the 1-1/2 length win over Rockinbeach (Wrenn) with Hennessey next aboard Pointsman to seal the crown.

Brigadierbronski A (Palone) was fourth while Gibbs (Tetrick) was fiftht in this classy octet.

Trained by Jake Huff for the Beauty Bridle Racing Stable, Outkast Blue Chip paid $19.80 as fourth choice to vault over the $250,000 plateau in lifetime earnings.

Hennessey then completed his epic night by winning both ends of the late Daily Double, scoring with Rub Ofthe Green ($3.60) in 1:51.4 and Bass Player ($3.20) in 1:52.3, completing his grand slam.

Racing continues on Monday (March 2) with a fourth race pentafecta carryover of $6,337.60, a Pick-6 carryover of $1,255.56 and a Super Hi-5 jackpot, which has ballooned to $44,948.86.

Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.