by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Four Socks, driven by Tyler Shehan, showed his four socks to his nine foes on Sunday night (April 22) in a wire-to-wire romp in 1:51.4 at Pompano Park.

Skip Smith photo

Four Socks scored an 18-1 upset win in Pompano Park’s $9,500 Open II Pace.

The 8-year-old gelded son of I Scoot Hanover, leaving from the rail post position, changed his usual come-from-behind strategy and sawed off front end panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.2 before a :27.2 finale left him three lengths ahead of favored Doo Wop Hanover, with Tony Kerwood in his sulky. Team Captain, chasing the leader in the garden spot throughout the contest, finished third for Andy Santeramo while Spirit Shadow finished fourth. Kotare Yael picked up the nickel in the classy 10-horse field.

After the race, trainer Mike Murphy related, “Well, he’s got the ability, that’s for sure. He likes racing off the pace better but, once in a while, we’ll get him revved up for a mile like this. He gave a good performance last week to a couple of very good horses in finishing third, so I thought he’d be good tonight.

“You know, he has missed some time over the past couple of seasons with a torn suspensory and we nursed him back to health each time. Since then, I don’t train him too much — maybe (2):22 or (2):23, but that’s about it.

“I didn’t tell Tyler (driver Smith) anything. He gets along well with him but I did mention that he’s feeling real good and just do what he (Four Socks) wants to do.”

Trained by Murphy for his wife, Barbara, and Geneva Stewart, Four Socks won for the second time this year in 11 starts to push his 2018 bounty to $13,898. Lifetime, he’s banked $176,849 to go along with his Hoosier Park mark of 1:50.1. Off as fifth choice in the betting, Four Socks paid $39.80 to his faithful.

In other action, Music Is Art, driven by Tony Kerwood, won the Open III Pace in a lifetime best 1:50.3. This 4-year-old son of Art Major made a sweeping backside brush from three lengths off the lead to take command heading into the final bend and then on to a handy win measuring 1-1/2 lengths over Rebellious, driven by Jim Meittinis — the latter pacing his final three-quarters in 1:22. Rockntouch, with Mickey McNichol in the sulky, finished third while Surge Seelster and Mittnage A Trois picked up the minors in the field of 10.

Trained by Peter Blood, who co-owns with Rick Berks, Music Is Art kept his 2018 scorecard unblemished (now at two-for-two) with the win and lowered his previous best winning mile by 1-2/5 seconds. Music Is Art now has career earnings of $112,777. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Music Is Art paid $5.80 to win.

Racing continues on Monday night with a Pick-6 carryover of $2,414 and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,829. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.