Pompano Beach, FL — Rebellious, superbly handled by Wally Hennessey for trainer Mike Deters, took top honors in Pompano Park’s $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Monday (April 12), stopping the timer in 1:51.1.

Rebellious took top honors in Pompano Park’s $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Monday. Dee Leftwich photo.

The grand 7-year-old gelded son of Mach Three led every long stride of his mile, posting fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23.1 along the way, in garnering his 45th career win and vaulting his bounty to $352,006 for Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner.

Ideal Feeling (Kevin Wallis), closed fastest of all to be second, less than a length away, with Lyons Night Hawk next.

It was a classic from start to finish as Hennessey sent his charge to the front, out-footing Lyons Night Hawk and La Rockin Sampson early and leaving Wes Delight, Skip To My Lou and Ideal Feeling, seeking his third straight Open win, well back of the leader.

Positions remained unchanged much of the way as only Skip To My Lou tried to dent the leader’s lead on the backside with Ideal Feeling second over but still last, 5-1/4 lengths away.

As driver Hennessey explained, “There are a lot of factors in any race from post positions to pace and one horse might seem better than another. If, say, one is better than another on a particular night, the question is ‘how much better?’ Kevin’s (Wallis) horse might have been five lengths better but six lengths back so that’s the difference right there — post positions and the start.

“He was Rebellious tonight and determined and Mike’s (trainer Deters) expertise as a horseman and his caretaker’s dedication certainly came through. I just handled the lines!”

With his fourth win of the season in eight starts, Rebellious sent his 2021 bankroll to $28,050 and rewarded his faithful with a $4.40 mutuel as the 6-5 choice.

The $10,000 Open II Pace went to War-N-Munn, driven by Wallis. The 8-year-old son of Stonebridge Regal used a “Hail Mary” pass three-eighths into the mile — the pass being from third to first in roughly 50 yards to secure the lead and hold on late for the neck triumph over the pocket-sitting Darling’s Dragon (Donald Dupont) with a very fast closing Saulsbrook Deputy (Ken Holliday) third, 1-1/4 lengths away.

Unlike last week when War-N-Munn led start to finish in a conditioned event, he tried to use these same tactics on this night but with three other leavers was forced to take back early as Darling’s Dragon and Agedchedar Hanover got in an early war as Kinnder Jackson also decided to relent and tuck in fourth.

After a hot opener of :26.1, Wallis sent War-N-Munn on that “Hail Mary” pass and did secure the lead prior to the half in a sizzling :54.1. He then used a :27.4 backside panel to reach the third station in 1:22 and held gamely late for the win — his second straight and 30th lifetime.

Also trained and owned by Wallis, War-N-Munn now has $375,184 in career bounty. As fourth choice in the betting at 5-1, War-N-Munn paid $12.40 to win.

Though Hennessey and Wallis took the feature events, the driving star of the night was Joe Chindano Jr., who hit a grand-slam while getting to the winner’s circle with Rural Art ($7.00), Don’t Chip Me ($3.20), Endeavors Pride ($12.20) and Neptune ($16.00).

Racing continues on Tuesday with mares in the spotlight in the $11,500 Open Pace. That event is carded as the sixth race and kicks off the Pick-4 with a $20,000 guaranteed pool with an industry low 12 percent takeout.

There is also a $13,222.65 carryover in the Super Hi-5 finale.

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