by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Adenium, making only his second start over Pompano Park’s five-eighths-mile oval, made amends from his early miscue a week ago and scored a handy one length victory in the $11,500 Open 1 Trot on Wednesday night (Jan. 2).

The 7-year-old gelded son of Revenue S, owned by Lloyd Gilmour and trained by G. Dean Gilmour, used a huge backstretch brush to pull on even terms with pacesetting Commander K around turn three and went on to score the win over the late closing She’s All In (Rick Plano) in a lifetime best 1:54.1, eclipsing his former mark by two and two-fifths seconds. I’ll Tell You What (David Ingraham) was third with the late charging My Revenuer fourth.

Driver Fern Paquet, Jr. had nothing but praise for the winner.

“When the weather turned ugly last week, he didn’t grab the track at all but Dean (Gilmour) thought he’d be better on this track, which was manicured perfectly tonight.

“When I asked him on the backside, he responded like a ‘hobbled pacer!’ The time didn’t really surprise me because he showed he could trot some late on a half-miler so I thought he’d really like this larger oval.”

The win — Adenium’s 12th lifetime — pushed his career bounty just a shade under $120,000.

The Open 2 Trot went to the only mare in the field, Blushing Hanover, as she wired the boys on her way to a five length win in 1:54.4 for Mickey McNichol.

Carving panels of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.3, the 6-year-old daughter of Donerail scored her victory at the expense of Super Lotto with Classic Viking third. Mr Jim Dandy was fourth in the mile with Lugar picking up the minor scraps.

Owned and trained by Tom Gonsalves, Blushing Hanover won for the 11th time in 61 lifetime starts, sending her bounty to $186,303.

After the race, McNichol said, “She raced much more relaxed tonight. Tom (Gonsalves) decided to try an open bridle on her as she always seemed to fight everything throughout her miles and had nothing left late. She accomplished her mile in a much more relaxed manner and had something left in reserve at the end.”

Racing continues at the South Florida oval on Saturday night with a first race post time of 7:05 p.m. with a million dollar quintet going to the gate in the Open 1 Handicap Pace.