Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park hosted a pair of $11,500 Open events on Tuesday night (March 2) with Timon AS and Casie’s Believer taking top honors in their respective races.

Timon AS won the Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park on Tuesday. Dee Leftwich photo.

Timon AS, handled by Peter Wrenn, stepped up to the top tier for trotters after a pair of wins in the highest claiming ranks and went on to blow by his stout competition in the Open Handicap Trot in a lifetime best 1:53.1. The 5-year-old altered son of Lionhunter roared by the pacesetting Muscles For Life (Wally Hennessey) at mid-stretch and scored by a widening 2-1/2 lengths with Born To Thrive (Rick Plano) third, six lengths away.

As the wings folded, Cantab Lindy was away with his usual alacrity from the rail while Timon AS and Muscles For Life were also on the prowl early with the latter reaching the opening panel in :27.4 with Timon AS in the garden spot and Cantab Lindy tucked in third. After a leisurely half in :57, the pace quickened on the backside with Muscles For Life sprinting away to a lead measuring 2-1/4 lengths on the strength of a :27.4 third panel.

Turning for home, Timon AS quickly closed that gap and by midstretch was on even terms before pulling away in the late stages for the handy win.

Said Peter Wrenn after the event, “Yes, he stepped up from the claimers — and I am sure glad nobody claimed him — but since he can’t read that well, he didn’t know who he was in with tonight and I was very confident when we got to the top of the lane. He’s got quite a motor and can brush hard for a good three-eighths. He’s really blossomed into a very nice horse.”

Trained by Wrenn for owner Michael Guest, Timon AS won for the sixth time in nine starts this semester, good for $34,850. The win was his 19th career-wise, vaulting his lifetime bounty to $98,760. Off as the fourth choice at 7-1, Timon AS rewarded his faithful with a $17.20 mutuel.

The companion event for the pacing mares went to Casie’s Believer, with Joe Chindano Jr. in the sulky — his second win in an Open event in the last 25 hours.

This 6-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar used a ground saving journey and slipped through along the pylons in the final yards to score by a neck over the pacesetting Prairie Westerngal (Hennessey) in 1:52.1. Lucky Artist A (Mike Simons) closed fastest of all — :27.3 — to finish third, less than a length away.

It was Prairie Westerngal who zipped off the wings to take charge immediately as Casie’s Believer secured the garden spot with Ask Me Ifi Care next and Crisp Mane finding a spot in fourth from her beginning six post. Prairie Westerngal sped an opening quarter in :26.2 but got a breather during the second panel, reaching the half in :56.1. On the backside, the pace accelerated with Prairie Westerngal turning back the challenge of Crisp Mane with Casie’s Believer sitting chilly along the inside.

Turning for home, the leader bore out a bit and Casie’s Believer quickly took advantage of that shortest route home and pinched on through for the win.

Also owned and trained by Chindano, Casie’s Believer won for the second time this season and sent her 2021 bounty to $19,010 and $115,244 to go along with her mark of 1:51.1 set two starts back. As fifth choice in the betting, Casie’s Believer paid $21.60 to win.

In the $10,000 Open II Trot, Northern Skyway, with David Miller in the bike, came from more than 10 lengths out of it halfway through the mile to rally late and win in 1:55.2. The margin was a half-length over Gemologist (Andy Santeramo) with Classicality (Simons) a fast closing third.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Guccio, usually lackluster leaving the gate, was no different this night from the one post as he got away seventh, only ahead of a breaker at the start, as Gemologist and Ev’s Girl traded jabs through a :27.1 opener followed by a half in a hot :55.4 as The Lionking AS applied pressure on the leader.

Ev’s Girl and The Lionking AS were on even terms past the third station in 1:25 with the Northern Skyway still seventh but tightening up as the early speed began to take its toll on the leaders. First Gemologist snuck on through but couldn’t contain Northern Skyway when it counted.

Trained by James Dunn for William McElvain, Jr., Northern Skyway has a 3-1-2 scorecard in eight starts, good for $13,510 this season and $217,563 lifetime. Off at 14-1, Northern Skyway paid $30.00 to win.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-4 and a Super Hi-5 Jackpot of $20,061.08. Post time is 7:20 p.m.