by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Wally Hennessey had quite a night at Pompano Park on Wednesday (Oct. 18) as the Hall of Fame driver scored six wins, including the featured trot with Boli, who scored a repeat win in 1:56.

Skip Smith photo

Boli, handled by Wally Hennessey, was one of six winners for the Hall of Fame driver on Wednesday night at Pompano Park.

Boli, a 5-year-old gelded son of Kadabra trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O’Neil, had to dodge some raindrops along the way, as well as the late charging Prairie Fortune (Jim Meittinis), to win by a length over his arch-rival with Zoraze (Fern Paquet Jr.) next, 2-1/4 lengths away. My Revenuer and BJAnthony picked up the final awards in the classy octet.

Boli, leaving from the outside eight post, was well placed early finding a spot in third back of Winemaster Hanover (Brady Galliers) and Uncle Hanover (Andy Santeramo) through panels of :28 and :57.3. Once they straightened away for the backstretch journey, Hennessey sent Boli on the prowl and took command with three-eighths remaining, repelling the final bend threat of Zoraze (1:26.4) and finally the late surging Prairie Fortune.

After the race, Hennessey related, “He’s very sharp right now. I had my eye on the lead leaving but Galliers’ horse (Winemaster Hanover) was winging a bit and the rail horse (Uncle Hanover) was aggressive leaving so, when I had the opportunity to duck in nice and close, I did. I asked my horse on the backside and he responded, just like he always seems to do.”

For Boli, it was his 10th win of the semester and 25th career victory, sending his lifetime bankroll to $214,164, $76,970 this year. As the 4-5 favorite, Boli paid $3.80 to win.

Hennessey also won with Lickcreek Francis ($3.20), Metro Glide ($5.40), Groovey Kid ($3.80), Railee Workable ($2.80) and Azzaro in a non-wagering Sunshine State Stakes event held prior to the betting card.

One event that Hennessey did not win was with the 1-10 favorite Hoosier Hawk, who was pressured hard early before running out of steam late enabling the 73-1 chance Trottin Kayla to earn a maiden win in 1:59.3. Jim Meittinis drove the winner for trainer Chet Poole Jr., who conditions the 3-year-old trotting filly for Haucks Racing Stable. She paid $149.20, $48.40 and $34.80 across the board and keyed a winning trifecta payoff of $10,119, the largest of the young meeting.

That payoff was eclipsed four races later when A Wish For Wings ($16.20), handled by Rick Plano, scored a near-gate-to-wire win in 1:54.2 over a track drenched by heavy rain just minutes before. Owned by trainer Edgar Clarke, A Wish For Wings scored by 2-1/4 lengths over Stirling Electra (Andy Santeramo, 39-1) and Caitlin’s Romance (Bryce Fenn, 38-1) to key a trifecta payoff of $11,689.60. The 20-cent superfecta in that same race paid $3,452.96.

The aforementioned Azzaro grabbed his division of the FSBOA sponsored Sunshine State Stake for sophomore trotting colts and geldings, scoring in a lifetime best 2:00.4 over arch-rival I’m Done (Jim McDonald). These two have faced each other 13 times with Azzaro now sporting a 7-6-0 scorecard compared to the I’m Done record of 6-7-0. The gelded son of Proud Bushy is trained by Kim Sears, who co-owns with husband Jay.

The three other Sunshine State Stake events highlighting the 3-year-olds were won by Atlantic Crest, Gold Star Aurora and Prairie Panther.

Atlantic Crest, a winner last week in this division for 3-year-old trotting fillies by 13 lengths, scored by 13-3/4 on Wednesday, hitting the line in 1:58.2 for owner-trainer-driver Sergio Corona. Among her mid-week victims this time around were Prairie Pixie (Meittinis) and Famous C (Hennessey).

Gold Star Aurora took top honors in the 3-year-old filly pace, cruising to a wire-to-wire win for Walter Ross Jr. in 1:56.4, carving out panels of :27.4, :58.2 and 1:28.4 before a :28 finale sealed the deal by 2-1/2 lengths over Prairie Cowgirl (Meittinis) and Bella Pat (Corey Braden). Trained by Maggie Audley for Marianne Audley, Gold Star Aurora, a daughter of Rock On, kept her 2017 record perfect at 3-for-3. Lifetime, she is 10-for-11 in the win column with bounty of $65,549.

Prairie Panther, a gelded son of Royel Millennium owned by trainer Mike Deters along with Laurie Poulin, made a brave quarter move (:28.3) to the top for Jim Meittinis and then went on to post panels of :56.2 and 1:26.2 before zipping on home in :28 to score by four lengths over Fabiano (Hennessey) with Maybe Ned (Bryce Fenn) third. The 1:54.3 clocking was a new lifetime mark for the winner.

Racing continues on Sunday night with four non-wagering Sunshine State Stakes and a strong pari-mutuel program with first post set for 7:20 p.m.