by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — A Weekend and Goldstar Raider were victorious in their respective divisions in the second leg of the Midnite Hardy Late Closer on Monday night (Feb. 8) at Pompano Park, while Zorgwijk Impact picked up a repeat win in the popular Over The Hill Gang trot.

A Weekend started the week off with a toteboard bang, scoring at odds of 36-1 for driver Steve Condren, who was in the sulky for owner-trainer Percy Jones.

The 7-year-old altered son of I Am A Fool took advantage of a hot early pace while cozily placed in third, pulled turning for home and rolled by the field to score in 1:53.4 and pin a defeat measuring 1-1/4 lengths on St Pete Star (Tom Jackson) with Cascata (Dave Ingraham) rallying late to be third. Mystical Valentine, locked up much of the mile, finished fourth while Bold Willie finished fifth in the sextet after cutting panels of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.1.

The win was the initial one of the season for A Weekend and 10th lifetime, with the victory — his second biggest payday career-wise — sending his lifetime earnings to $46,075. A Weekend rewarded his faithful with a $74.00 win mutuel.

Goldstar Raider made his 100th lifetime start a winning one for owner-trainer-driver Tom Jackson. This 7-year-old Florida bred son of Rock On used the rail to perfection as he left with alacrity, yielded briefly, retook command after an initial panel of :27.2 and led the rest of the way, clocking fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.3 before sprinting home unscathed in :28.3 to hit the wire a 2-1/2 length winner in 1:53.1. Beach Blast (Kevin Wallis) rallied to be second while A Fool For Mark (Dave Ingraham) finished third. Fly Away was fourth in the field of six while Mr Right Now picked up the nickel.

Goldstar Raider won for the 27th time in his career to send his career bounty to $158,203. As the 2-1 second choice on the board, Goldstar Raider paid $6.20 to his many backers.

In the Over The Hill Gang trot for 9-year-olds and up, Zorgwijk Impact, handled this night by Wally Hennessey, scored a repeat victory as he easily took care of his foes by using the draw (post one) to perfection in the event.

This 11-year-old son of Armbro Ricochet, owned and trained by Jack Sheehan, scored the win measuring 2-3/4 lengths over Illusionsndreams (Andy Santeramo) with Savthelstdancforme (Steve Condren) third. Tug River Dylan finished fourth while On The Tab, last halfway through the mile, rallied for fifth.

Zorgwijk Impact was away alertly as Illusionsndreams blasted out of the gate from mid-track — post five — to take the field through an opening panel of :28.2. That’s exactly when Hennessey sent Zorgwijk Impact to the front to stay, posting subsequent panels of :57.4 and 1:26.3 before gliding home untouched in 1:56.3.

In a post-race interview, driver Hennessey said, “I remember having driven this horse a season or two ago and he always showed me he had heart. He’s 11 now and still has that same heart. I don’t think he’s lost a step over the years. He’s the definition of a racehorse — gives all he’s got.”

In making his 273rd lifetime start, Zorgwijk Impact won for the 44th time and sent his career bounty to $353,659. As the 6-5 toteboard favorite, he paid $4.60 to win.

Racing continues on Tuesday night with a very competitive octet of trotters set to go in the $15,000 Open Handicap. My Revenuer, going for his third straight in this top company will once again have Brad Kramer handling his lines but starts from the outside post with Sailer Eddie, Uriel, She’s All In, the invader Pocket Trip, Cashahallic, Winding Hill and Royal Max providing the competition. Post time is set for 7:30 p.m.