by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Late Closing events continued at Pompano Park on Tuesday night (Jan. 20) with Indigo Artist and Kabu drawing first blood in their respective events.

Indigo Artist, driven by Ed Hensley for trainer Rod Grady, took the first leg of the Better Late Than Ever conditioned/claiming for pacers by scoring in a lifetime best 1:54.4, holding off the late determined bid by Son Day (Mickey McNichol) by a neck. Total Proof (Dave Ingraham) finished third while Directly Related and Progresive Hanover garnered the final two awards in the field of 10.

It was a game of “musical chairs” early as Indigo Artist and Son Day traded places on the front end with the former leaving and yielding just past the opener in :27.4 and then retaking the lead halfway through the mile in :56.1.

These two remained one-two past the third station in 1:25.1 as Indigo Artist sprinted clear at mid-stretch before holding on for the determined win as Son Day began gnawing away at the leader late.

In a post race interview, driver Ed Hensley said, “He’s not a world champion but he’s a gamer and, when he’s classified right, he’s going to be competitive. He was sharp tonight and I was pleased that he was able to stay in there to the wire. I don’t think he’s too used to two moves in a mile.”

Owned by Percy Jones, Indigo Artist, a 6-year-old son of Arturo, was the 5-2 second choice on the tote board and paid $7.00 to win.

Skip Smith photo

Kabu took top honors at Pompano Park in the first leg of the Fair Start Late Closer for trotters.

Kabu, driven by Jason Dillander for owner Trent Stohler, made his initial appearance at Pompano Park a winning one in the first leg of the Fair Start Late Closer for conditioned/claiming trotters.

This 4-year-old son of Valley Victor, making his first start of the year after a two month hiatus, rolled home quickest of all to score a handy three length win in 1:56.4 — a lifetime best — over Princess Crown (Peter Wrenn) with favored Tyrone Showstopper (Dan Clements) third. Insider Access rallied from 10th in the bulky field of 11 to garner fourth while Luvnuisfun picked up the nickel.

In that event, it was Muscle Massacre who was on the engine from the get-go to carve out lively panels of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before going up in the air shortly thereafter to lose all chance.

After the race, driver Jason Dillander said, “I certainly didn’t want to send him in his first start back so the hot fractions helped tremendously. When we found a bit of room, he responded nicely. He seems pretty handy.”

As second choice on the board, Kabu paid $7.20 to win.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with the Open Handicap Trot, the second leg of the Sea Eagle Late Closing event and a near $60,000 Super Hi-5 jackpot the highlights. Post time is 7:30 p.m.