Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park presented twin $14,200 features on Tuesday (Nov. 2) with a “DH” in the Open Pace for Mares and a “DQ” occurring in the top trot.

In the Open Pace for Mares, the photo finish camera couldn’t separate Casie’s Believer, handled by Joe Chindano Jr. and Evas Sports Czech. with Ken Holliday handling the lines, as both hit the line in 1:53.2.

Casie’s Believer and Evas Sports Czech had to share the winner’s circle at Pompano in the featured Open Pace for Mares on Tuesday. Ryan Thompson photo.

It was a classic thriller from start to finish as Casie’s Believer (post four) zipped off the wings along with Evas Sports Czech (post five) with the latter taking charge around the initial turn and ripping off hot panels of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24 with Talk Show Chica next halfway through.

Around the final bend, Roll With Angel brushed into a non-threatening third but the race to the wire featured the top two only as Evas Sports Czech cut the corner turning for home as Casie’s Believer left the cozy pocket and began gnawing away, inching closer with every long stride but only able to gain the tie on the wire.

In a post race interview, driver Ken Holliday remarked, “This mare (Evas Sports Czech) has a few issues but she raced very well. When we hit the wire, I thought to myself, ‘man, this is close. This could be a heater!'”

As for driver Joe Chindano Jr., he said, “I thought going in that my main competition would be Ken’s (Holliday) mare and that I had to get into the race early. We were gaining a bit on her in the lane and, when we hit the wire, I knew it was an inch or two, if that. I was hoping for the win but, hey, if you can’t win it yourself, the next best thing is to be in a dead-heat!”

Evas Sports Czech is a 5-year-old daughter of Sportswriter, trained by Holliday for 1940LLC. She now has a 6-6-9 scorecard in 35 starts this year, good for $68,281 and $123,405 lifetime. Off at 1-2 in the betting, she paid $2.10 in sharing the win pool.

Casie’s Believer is a 6-year-old mare by Betterthancheddar owned by Chindano, and she also won for the sixth time in 33 starts this year to send her bounty to $75,450 and $171,684 career-wise. Off as the 9-2 third choice, she paid $3.40 in the split pool.

In the $14,200 Open Trot, Oberto, driven by Donald Dupont for owner-trainer Marie Dupont, was awarded the win on a disqualification of Just Maybe The One (Wally Hennessey) as the latter made a miscue around the final turn, left the course, regained his composure to join the fray and slipped through along the pylons to win in a disallowed time of 1:54.4.

After the judges review, Just Maybe The One was disqualified and placed fifth as Oberto, closing fastest of all, reached second and then was moved up a notch to the winner’s circle.

The Lionking AS (Kevin Walis), the 6-5 favorite, cut panels of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3 and eventually finished third but also moved up a spot on the disqualification. BJ Lorado (Braxten Boyd) was awarded third while the veteran Cantab Lindy was officially placed fourth.

Oberto, a 5-year-old gelded son of Yankee Glide, won for the second time this semester and now has $128,206 lifetime.

Drivers Wally Hennessey, Joe Sanzeri and Joe Chindano Jr. had driving doubles on the program — Hennessey scoring with Lucid Dreams ($2.40) and Sea Shadows ($3.00) while Sanzeri reached the winner’s circle with Hesallaboutdabass ($8.80) and Trix And Stones ($3.40). Chindano, besides his involvement in the dead-heat affair, also won with In Lou Of Money ($2.10), using a :54.4 final half to score in 1:52.1.

Racing continues Sunday with the track now offering racing on a Sunday-Monday-Tuesday schedule with post times at 7:20 p.m.