Pompano Beach, FL — Rebellious and In Secret shared the spotlight with wins in their respective Open Handicap events at Pompano Park on Monday (Feb. 22).

Rebellious took top honors in Pompano Park’s co-feature on Monday night. Dee Leftwich photo.

Rebellious, again handled by Wally Hennessey for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner, scored in the $11,000 feature for the pacers in 1:51.4, using a :27.1 finale to hold Alluneedisfaith N (Mike Simons) safe by a length on the wire. Seeing Eye Single (David Miller) was third, 2-1/2 lengths away after an evenly rated effort while Skip To My Lou finished fourth. Ideal Feeling picked up the nickel after a first up backside bid reaching third around the final bend.

Rebellious, a 7-year-old gelded son of Mach Three, took charge around the opening turn and set fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.3 along the way to score his third win in four 2021 starts and 44th success in a career that has seen his lifetime bounty vault to $340,206 with this win.

In a post-race interview, driver Hennessey lamented, “Mike (trainer Deters) has him razor sharp. He’s a great horse and when I got to the half in :56.3, I felt really confident since he went to the half in :55 and a piece last week and won. It was just another typical, great performance for him.”

In echoing Hennessey, trainer Deters said, “I thought he raced awesome tonight. He’s got great gate speed and coasted to the front pretty easily. That breather in the second quarter helped — you know Wally has a stopwatch in his head — and sprinted the last half.”

As the slight favorite at even money on the board (Skip To My Lou was 6-5). Rebellious paid $4.20 to his multitude of faithful.

In Secret took top honors in the companion $11,500 Open Handicap Trot as driver David Miller took this 9-year-old altered son of Deweycheatumnhowe to the front an eighth into the mile and posted times of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.3, sealing the issue with a final :28.4 panel to hold off the very fast closing Sooo Handsome (Rick Plano) by a neck in 1:54.2. The pocket-sitting 13-year-old Cantab Lindy (Jon MacDonald) and Gemologist (Andy Santeramo) tied for third with My Uncle Cuz picking up the minor award in the classy septet.

Trained by Devan Miller for owner Sylvia Burke, In Secret sent his lifetime bankroll roaring to $873,253 with the win, the 43rd of his career. Off at 3-5, In Secret paid $3.20 to win.

Other notable performances on Monday included a $10,000 Open II Pace win by Sgt Papa Daddy in 1:52.1 and a 1:55.4 score for BJ Lorado in the companion $10,000 Open II Trot.

Sgt Papa Daddy ($13.40) eked out a photo finish win by a neck for John MacDonald over the favorite Stone Hanover (Peter Wrenn) to send his lifetime victory total to 36 and earnings to $263,998. The 7-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image is trained by Brandy Wine for J P Stables. The millionaire pacer with 100 lifetime wins, Southwind Amazon (Braxton Boyd), was a fast closing third in this event while Real Peace and Unlikeanyother were next in the octet.

BJ Lorado’s late lunge right on the wire earned him the nose decision for David Miller over EV’s Girl (Joe Chindano Jr.) with Simply Volo (Wally Hennessey), who led much of the way, third in this “bang-bang” finish. Keegan Ho and Tech Titan were next. BJ Lorado, a 7-year-old gelding by Bo W, has 26 career wins and earnings of $181,433. He’s trained by Marc Major for Michael and Diane Norcross. He paid $10.20 to win.

Another noteworthy performance was that of track record holder Panocchio, who reached the winner’s circle for the 73rd time during his illustrious career. The now 11-year-old gelded son of No Pan Intended scored in 1:52.3 for Wally Hennessey, who was in the bike for trainer Jim Mattison, co-owner with wife Vicki and Emile Johnson. It was the 47th success for Panocchio over Pompano’s five-eighths-mile oval. The slight favorite at 6-5, Panocchio paid $4.60 to win.

The comeback for the near million dollar winner Funknwaffles continued on Monday night as this now 7-year-old gelded son of American Ideal scored in 1:51 for David Miller in a gritty mile going first up on the backside and squeaking by a game Lyons Night Hawk (John MacDonald) by a neck. Trained by Tony Alagna, making his first start ever at Pompano Park, Funknwaffles is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and paid $3.20 to win.

Finally, Millennial, driven by Joe Chindano Jr., won the Super Hi-5 finale at 38-1 and keyed a 1-4-3-7-2 combo that led to a $100,453.86 payday bonanza for one fortunate member of the “Send-It-In” army.

Handle for the night, once again, eclipsed the million dollar mark with $1,064,366 wagered on the 12-race program.

Racing continues on Tuesday night with a Pick-6 carryover of $2,710 and a $20,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick-4, which begins in race six.