by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — A 12-time winner from 28 starts in 2007, Eleven A M notched his first victory of the new season on Saturday (Jan. 12) when prevailing in the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park in 1:52.3.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Eleven A M (#7) holds off No Nonsense Yankee (#8) to capture the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Driven from post seven by Bruce Ranger, Eleven A M settled briefly in fourth place through the initial stages of the Saturday feature as JJ’s Gazette (Andy Santeramo) outfought Pan Prix (John Kakaley) to take the early lead, pacing an opening quarter in :27.1.

As the field moved by the grandstand for the first time, Eleven A M was angled off the pylons to begin a methodical first-over march, grinding his way up to second as JJ’s Gazette continued on the front end through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.

Eleven A M wrestled the lead away from JJ’s Gazette on the final turn and entered the stretch with a half-length advantage, before holding on determinedly down the lane to repel the late charge of No Nonsense Yankee (Wally Hennessey) and prevail by a head at the wire.

Eleven A M returned $10.00, $5.00, and $3.20 for the victory. No Nonsense Yankee brought in $2.80 and $2.60 for second, while Paper Luck (Daryl Bier) paid $3.40 for third.

Owned by Berry Stables of Staten Island, N.Y., and trained by Ranger, Eleven A M is a stakes-winning son of Falcon Seelster, out of the Royal Command C mare Imustbedreamin. The 6-year-old horse is a 28-time winner from 85 lifetime starts, and boasts a career bankroll of $434,113.

Hennessey approaches milestone victory

Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey visited the Pompano Park winner’s circle twice on the Saturday program, and continues to move forward in his quest to become the 22nd driver in harness racing history to reach the 7,000-win plateau.

Hennessey prevailed in the evening’s second race with Fifth Street ($11.40), before returning to tally his 6,996th career victory with Keystone Granite ($3.80) in race seven.

Hennessey is scheduled to drive nine horses on the 12-race Monday (Jan. 14) program from Pompano, including 2-1 morning line favorite Gale Warning in the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Trot. First race post time is 7:25 p.m.