by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park’s Tuesday (Nov. 7) program featured the redemption of Boli in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot while Prairie Panther sizzled in one of the four FSBOA Stallion Stakes events; the other winners being Atlantic Crest, I’m Done and Tay Tay M.

Skip Smith photo

Boli, driven by Wally Hennessey, redeemed himself in Pompano Park’s Open Handicap Trot on Tuesday night.

Boli, looking for redemption after a costly miscue in last week’s Open, got it big time with a very sharp 1:55.1 win for Wally Hennessey over arch-rival Prairie Fortune, driven by Jim Meittinis. Railee Workable, with Andy Santeramo handling the lines, finished third while Zoraze, who cut the mustard most of the way, wound up fourth. Born To Thrive picked up the nickel in the classy sextet.

As usual, Boli left with alacrity from his outside post six to take command a single stride off the wings with Railee Workable away in good order and Zoraze (Fern Paquet Jr.) next but on the attack early, taking command right at the opening station in :27.3. Slicing through fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.4, Zoraze cut the corner turning for home with Boli now free and clear to take his swing at the leader straightening away. Meanwhile, Prairie Fortune, away last and some nine lengths away early on, began churning away during the last lap, trotting his last three-quarters in 1:25.4 to finish second, a half-length away.

Said Hennessey after the win, “I really don’t know what happened to cause his break last week, but he sure seemed anxious to redeem himself tonight. I was kind of surprised with Fern’s (Paquet) quarter move and it was a good one because I was caught a little off guard. But the trip behind him was just fine and Boli is such a handy thing that he’ll do anything I ask. I really didn’t have to ask much tonight — maybe a tap or two in the lane — but he was very good.”

The win was the 11th of the year for Boli and sent his seasonal bounty to $81,970 for owners Paul and Patricia O’Neil. Lifetime, the Dan Hennessey trainee has a 26-11-12 scorecard in 72 career starts, good for $219,164. As the even-money toteboard favorite, Boli returned $4.20 to his many faithful.

Prairie Panther was one of four winners in the FSBOA sponsored Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds with more than $100,000 up for grabs — three of which were non-wagering events.

Under the direction of driver Jim Meittinis, this gelded son of Royel Millennium took command at the :27.3 opener and posted subsequent panels of :58 and 1:27.3 before a sparking :27 finale closed the door on a game Maybe Ned, handled by Bryce Fenn. Fifth Son, with Corey Braden in his sulky, finished third while Gold Star Spider and Gold Star Bugsy were next in the sextet. The final time of 1:54.3 equaled his lifetime best.

Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, Prairie Panther stretched his winning streak to six with the win and his share of the $28,175 purse vaulted his lifetime bounty to $90,257.

Sergio Corona’s Atlantic Crest expanded her winning skein to five with yet another gate-to-wire performance, stopping the timer in 1:59 in the $26,625 event for 3-year-old trotting fillies. The sophomore daughter of Crest easily held off the late-surging Prairie Pixie (Jim Meittinis) by 3-1/2 lengths after posting fractions of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:28.3 along the way. Famous C (Wally Hennessey) was third while Sparkling Comet and Bonnie Blue Banker completed the roster. It, too, was a non-wagering event but the win sent Atlantic Crest’s lifetime bounty to $102,387.

The heavyweight rivalry between I’m Done and Azzaro continued in the $24,025 Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings and after this 16th round between the two, the score has evened up at eight rounds apiece as I’m Done scored a handy win for John MacDonald in 2:02.3, last quarter in :29.3. Last year’s Super Night champ, trained by Jim McDonald for owner Troy Basista, put up number of :30.1, 1:02.1 and 1:33 along the way. I’m Done now has banked more than $96,000 during his 16-race career, showing eight wins and eight seconds on the card — the exact same numbers as his arch-rival.

The fourth and final Stallion Stakes — this one for 3-year-old pacing fillies — was on the pari-mutuel card and Tay Tay M, a bridesmaid all of last year as a 2-year-old, made her sophomore debut at Pompano Park a winning one as this daughter of Six Of Diamonds got picture perfect handling from Wally Hennessey to edge by a stubborn Gold Star Aurora (Walter Ross Jr.) by a length in 1:55.1. Gold Star Aurora took command at the outset and posted number of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.2 but her :28 finale was just a bit short of Tay Tay M’s :27.3 finale. Prairie Cowgirl (Jim Meittinis) was third while Bella Pat and Golden Diamond also picked up minor awards in the sextet.

Trained by Kim Sears for owners Jay Sears and Richard Dunmire, Tay Tay M returned $4.00 to win and her share of the $26,125 purse sent her lifetime bankroll to $66,683 with the win — her fourth lifetime.

Racing continues on Sunday night with first post set for 7:20 p.m.