by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park hosted the $17,700 final of the Powerline Late Closing event for $15,000 claiming pacers on Sunday night (Dec. 27) and Long Term eked out a photo finish decision in 1:52 for Ricky Macomber Jr. over Trevor Win For Us (Kevin Wallis) with J M Jet Set (Wally Hennessey) third. Oh My Joepa finished fourth while Aloneinspades picked up the minor award in the field of eight.

Skip Smith photo

Long Term eked out a narrow decision in the $17,700 final of the Powerline Late Closer on Sunday night.

As the wings folded, Trevor Win For Us was on the engine along with Four Starzzz Z with J M Jet Set away in good order third but on the move early and hustling up to take the lead right at the opening station in a hot :26.4. Trevor Win For Us, though, was not content in the pocket and reclaimed the lead three-eighths into the mile, knifing his way to a half in :55.

It was at this juncture that Long Term tilted out looking for cover and he found it as Four Starzzz Z left the pocket in third and began to trudge forward. When Four Starzzz Z stalled, Long Term was forced to go on a double bubble move as the leader hit the third station in 1:23.4.

In the lane, the war to the wire developed between Trevor Win For Us and Long Term with the latter eking to the front just a couple of strides from the wire.

In a post-race interview, driver Ricky Macomber Jr. related, “This wasn’t the easiest of trips. I thought I had worked out a nice second over trip but when Jason’s (Dillander) horse (Four Starzzz Z) quit going forward, I had to go wide around him and that didn’t help. My horse can rev it up pretty good when it counts and he must have come home under :28 (officially :27.3) to get there.”

Long Term is trained by Jamie Macomber who added, “I wanted this horse for so long and when Racing Secretary Greg DeFrank wrote those Late Closing events, I ‘really’ wanted him, so I have to thank Greg for putting these events together so these horses can make some very good money!”

Jamie trains Long Term, a 5-year-old altered son of Jenna’s Beach Boy, for James Stonecipher, who co-owns with driver Ricky Macomber Jr.

The victory was the third in the past four starts for Long Term and fifth success of the year in 34 starts with the winner’s share of this Late Closer — $8,850 — being the biggest payday in Long Term’s racing career measuring 82 starts. He’s banked $38,225 this year and $82,483 lifetime. As second choice in the betting, Long Term paid $5.40 to win.

In the $10,000 pace for $20,000 claimers, Danger Hi Joltage, opening many eyes last week in a mid-class ($10,000) claiming event with a wire-to-wire performance in a lifetime best 1:50.2, proved that mile was no fluke as he made the successful jump to the $20,000 claiming ranks with a near gate-to-wire win in 1:51.4 for Wally Hennessey.

The 6-year-old altered son of Village Jolt won a brief tussle with Hurricane Howard (Aaron Byron) and Abominable Snowman (Kevin Wallis) around the opening turn and went on to post panels of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:23.3 before using a :28.1 finale to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Abominable Snowman. Glammit (Joe Pavia Jr.) rallied for show honors, 4-3/4 lengths away. Arts On Fire finished fourth while Hurricane Howard managed to hold on for the nickel.

Trained by Rob Harmon for the Harmon Racing Stable, Danger Hi Joltage won for the seventh time this semester, sending his 2015 bounty to $43,963. As second choice in the betting, Danger Hi Joltage paid $4.80 to win.

Also on the Sunday card, Boli, the well-bred 3-year-old son of Kadabra, used a lethal closing kick to score a photo finish victory in a lifetime best 1:54.4 in a conditioned trot. Driven by Wally Hennessey, Boli looked to be in a precarious spot several lengths away turning for home but turned on the afterburners in the lane to score by a neck over Striking Ivy, handled by Kevin Wallis. Janet finished third for Aaron Byron while Miss B’ville J and Stemilt Touch garnered the final two awards in the field of nine.

Trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O’Neil, Boli earned his fifth win of the season in 17 starts to send his 2015 bankroll to $40,386. Off at 2-5 on the toteboard, Boli paid $2.80 to win.

Racing continues on Monday with trotting fillies and mares in the spotlight in the Open Trot. Post time is 7:30 p.m.