Pompano Beach, FL — There were two big headlines at Pompano Park on Monday night — a record $100,000-plus Pick-5 handle and another sizzling Hot Art performance in the featured $10,000 claiming ($20,000-$30,000) handicap pace.

Actually, the record Pick-5 handle story began on Sunday night in Florida Amateur Driving competition when Explosive Motion, driven by Jamie Marra, exploded the toteboard with a $2 win payoff of $149.80 in the first of two amateur trotting events. That 4-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter closed stoutly after a heady drive to win in 1:58, a seasonal best.

That win also keyed a $581.40 exacta payoff with the favorite, a $2 trifecta return of $3,420.20, a 20-cent superfecta of $1,980.64 and a $2 daily double worth $2,185.60.

The on-setting record to be was also helped along in yet another amateur event when The Big Muscle, driven by Joe Pennacchio, lived up to his name by out-muscling his competition on the wire in 1:58.2 to score at 5-1 ($13.20).

A few minutes later, the record handle-to-be was virtually assured when Mac Anover and John MacDonald teamed up to score at 33-1 in the final leg of the Sunday Pick-5, leaving that offering unscathed with a carryover of $11,116.12, setting up a $60,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool for Monday.

Four favorites and a second choice dominated the Monday proceedings, including an amateur race with the 1-2 favorite, Anchors Away, taking yet another FADC event with Tony Dinges in the bike.

This 4-year-old gelded son of Whom Shall I Fear went a rugged journey to score in 1:56.2 over Bigboy Rosco (Jamie Marra) and Everyone’s Talkin (Ron Cusimano). The win was number 12 on the year for Anchors Away for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner.

Hot Art extended his winning streak to five at Pompano Park on Monday night. Jessica Hallett photo.

The ageless marvel Hot Art, driven by ageless marvel Rick Plano, closed out the Pick-5 competition as the 1-5 toteboard favorite ($2.60), winning by a well measured neck in 1:51.4, extending his winning streak to five in yet another gate-to-wire victory. The 12-year-old put up numbers of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.2 along the way to hold off Noahs Mill (David Miller) with R J P (Wally Hennessey) third over Dakota Jack and Believeinthespirit in the classy quintet.

In Hot Art’s past five starts, he has “1’s” in 24 of 25 points of call on his charted lines.

In explaining Hot Art’s recent success, Plano said, “Actually he races better off the pace on someone’s helmet but he’s so strong right now, he doesn’t let me put him in the hole. He’s just so fast out of the gate. He’s been quite amazing lately, but he’s going to be 13 in a few days, so we’ll hope he stays as healthy as he is right now.”

The win was the 16th of the year for Hot Art, sending his 2021 earnings to $87,593 and $445,893 lifetime in 294 starts.

By the way, chalk players had a field day in the Pick-5 as there were 2,759 winning tickets on the 5/6-2-5-5-5 combo returning $32.40.

Racing continues on Tuesday with trotters in the limelight in the $14,200 Open Handicap Trot. Another Plano trainee, Toy’s For You, goes for his fifth straight win in the feature with Timon AS, Muscles For Life, Max, Flagman and Wild And Crazy Guy providing the competition.

The Tuesday card also features a $15,000 guaranteed pool (industry low 12 percent takeout) on the Pick-4 and a Super Hi-5 jackpot of $58,046. Post time is 7:20 p.m.