by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — With Pompano Park’s Super Hi-5 $70,000 carryover into Saturday’s (March 28) racing program gaining significant momentum, the track has added additional “fuel to the fire” by carding the $15,400 Open Handicap Pace as the event host for Saturday’s Hi-5.

A stellar field of 10 will face the Hummer Starting Gate, including newcomers Doo Wop Hanover (5-2) and Panocchio (9-2), both expected to attract significant interest at the mutuel windows.

Doo Wop Hanover, a $257,000 winner with a 1:49 mark in his 2014 3-year-old campaign and a very fast closing fourth to McWicked in the Breeders Crown in his final start last season, makes his 4-year-old debut for trainer Peter Blood, who co-owns along with Rick Berks.

Mickey McNichol, who handled Doo Wop Hanover in his 1:50.4 qualifying win last week, will be in the bike and begins from post eight. This son of Rocknroll Hanover is sandwiched between Panocchio, a 1:49.3 winner in his last start at Pompano to close out last year’s campaign, and Duc Dorleans, bringing a four race winning streak in Open competition to the table.

About Doo Wop Hanover, trainer Peter Blood said, “I’m not too crazy about having drawn the eight post in a bulky field like this, but Doo Wop showed he was tight with that qualifier last week and he can really do some rattling in the lane, so we hope for the best in this, his first start back.”

Panocchio will have the services of Bruce Ranger in the bike while Duc Dorleans, sporting a mark of 1:49 at Pompano Park, will have regular driver Donald Dupont handling the 5-year-old’s lines.

Ranger thinks the event will be an all out war, especially early.

“If the weather co-operates, I think we’ll see some very fast fractions — some real barnburners — especially early,” he said. “Last week, the opener was :25.4, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the half was :53 and change and I don’t think it would be prudent to mix it up too much with the leader at that point. That could set up for a track record threatening mile.”

Pompano Park’s track record is 1:48.4.

While these aforementioned stars have lightning gate speed, their main competition may come from yet another blossoming star, Remissionofsins (7-2), a side-wheeler that can bolt out of the gate with the best of them, as evidenced by his :25.4 opener last week in the Open, only to be nailed in the final stride or two of a 1:50.2 mile. Kevin Wallis will be in the bike back of Remissionofsins for the Saturday night special.

Wallis said, “This is the first time that I will have driven this horse but I understand he does have some hellish (keeping with the sins theme) speed early. Off his recent performances, he should be competitive in the field.”

The field also boasts Cruizin K C (post one, 15-1), Freeneasy Hanover (20-1), Northern Companion (15-1), E Z Noah (10-1), P L Hellcat (8-1) and Raji’s Blue Line (15-1), starting from the second tier 10 post.

Raji’s Blue Line will have the driving services of Mike Micallef who said, “I realize that there are a few horses in there that might be a step or two better than mine but the last time I checked Raji couldn’t read the tele-time on the infield board, so I am hoping to catch some live cover off of a lively half.”

Post time for Pompano’s Saturday night program is 7:30 p.m.