by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Fillies and mares were in the spotlight at Pompano Park on Monday night (Jan. 26) with Pertty Music scoring a repeat win in the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares and Saint Patty’s Doll taking the photo finish victory in the similar featured event for trotters.

Pertty Music scored a repeat victory in the Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Monday.

Pertty Music, owned, trained and driven by Ed Hensley, took command shortly after the Hummer starting gate sprung and went on past panels of :27, :56.2 and 1:24.3 en route to a victory measuring 1-1/2 lengths over P L Hula, handled by George Napolitano Jr., in 1:52.4. Winbak Heavenly and Peter Wrenn teamed up for third while De Vins Girl and Keystone Christa picked up the final two awards in the sextet.

After the race, driver Ed Hensley spoke of his journey in a single word, “Awesome!”

He then continued, “Actually, it was a very good effort on a chilly (60 degree) night (for South Florida). Yes, we had the outside post but she can sprint an opener in :27 pretty handily. Nothing developed until we reached the final turn and, then, when I saw Kevin’s (Wallis) mare (Keystone Christa) brushing, I just chirped once and my mare never was in danger after that.”

For Pertty Music, a 5-year-old daughter of Jereme’s Jet, it was her second success of the young year and 16th lifetime, sending her career bounty to $228,022. As the 3-5 favorite on the tote board, Pertty Music paid $3.40 to win.

Skip Smith photos

Bruce Ranger guided Saint Patty’s Doll to a photo finish victory in Pompano Park’s top trot for mares.

Saint Patty’s Doll, handled by Bruce Ranger for trainer Jake “300” Huff and Stable 45, used similar tactics to take down the victory in the companion event for the distaff trotters, holding off the futile late surge of Trot Fudge Sundae and driver Dave Ingraham by a neck in 1:57. Escrow Blue Chip, trotting the fastest final panel of the seven mares in the event, rallied from last turning for home to finish third, just a half-length off the winner for Rick Plano. Blushing Hanover, prominent early on, finished fourth while the favorite, McTiny’s Hope, finished fifth.

After the event, winning driver Bruce Ranger said, “Last week, she gave me a good hint with a solid effort after showing a willingness to leave out of there, so this week I just let her do her own thing out of the gate. She got to the top pretty easily (:28.2) and then she relaxed and got to the half cheap (:58.2). She heard some competition on the backside so she picked it up on her own and seemed to put away Dave’s (Ingraham) mare (Trot Fudge Sundae) around the final bend but I had to remind her a couple of times late. I was glad to see the wire.”

Saint Patty’s Doll, a 6-year-old daughter of Conway Hall and a nine-time winner last year, won for the initial time in 2015 for her 16th lifetime win, sending her lifetime bankroll to $136,335. As the 4-1 third choice on the board, Saint Patty’s Doll paid $10.40 to win.