by John Berry, for Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — All Charged Up, perfectly handled by trainer John MacDonald, used a late power surge to take top honors in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Monday night (Feb. 12) in 1:52.3.
The 7-year-old daughter of Ponder bolted through along the pylons once they straightened away for home to score by a length over Wild Wanda, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. Ubetterbeturlife, with Brett Miller making a rare Florida appearance, finished third while Strings finished fourth. Embassy Seelster picked up the nickel in the classy sextet of ladies.
Skip Smith photo
All Charged Up surged through late to capture Pompano Park’s feature for mares on Monday night.
As the Hummer Starting Gate left the station, Wild Wanda and All Charged Up both left with alacrity with the latter taking command early before quickly yielding to Wild Wanda at the opening station in :27.2. A well rated second panel left Wild Wanda with the lead halfway through in :56.4 with the pace then quickening on the backside as Wild Wanda tried to shake loose from her foes.
With three-quarters on the board in 1:24.3, Wild Wanda turned for home with a 1-1/2 length lead but drifted out a bit allowing All Charged Up to surge on through along the pylons to score the win — her third of the year in five starts.
In a post-race interview, driver John MacDonald said, “My mare (All Charged Up) lives up to her name when the wings fold. She likes to join the party early and tonight was no exception. It was kind of a blessing when Ricky’s (Macomber) mare made that early move because my mare likes the cover. In the lane, the inside opened up a bit and she pounced on the opportunity. Lots of traffic last week, not so bad this week. That’s the story in a nutshell.”
All Charged Up, owned by J P Stables, now has 35 career wins in 124 starts, good for lifetime bounty of $295,212. As the slight favorite at 3-2, All Charged Up paid $5.00 to her many faithful.
A pair of $7,500 co-features for mares also highlighted the Monday program with Galarina and Iced Out annexing those.
Galarina, a 7-year-old daughter of Dali, enjoyed a picture perfect journey from trainer Andy Santeramo to score in 1:52.4 — her winning margin 1-1/2 lengths over Northern Dali, driven by George Napolitano Jr. Drea’s Good Powow was third for John MacDonald after a first over bid around the final bend while Metro Glide rallied from last to finish fourth. Layer Cake earned the minor award in the septet.
Galarina is now four-for-six this semester with earnings of $17,425 for owners Ron Ruggles and Tom Santeramo. She paid $5.00 as second choice in the betting.
Iced Out, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr., found some room turning for home and first mowed by the 3-5 toteboard favorite Fox Valley Hermia (George Napolitano Jr.) and then held off the late surging Sue’s Night Out (Wally Hennessey) to score in 1:53.2 for her first win of the year in five starts.
This 8-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, trained by Eric Beach for Little Bapa, was off as the longest proposition on the toteboard at 68-1 and returned $138.20 to win. The Iced Out-Sue’s Night Out exacta (3-7) paid $832.20 and proved to be the end of anyone enjoying a Pick-6 win, which now has a carryover going into the Tuesday program.
Racing continues on Tuesday night with a carryover in the Super Hi-5 finale ballooning to $185,469. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.