by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park ushered in its first Monday night of racing this fall season with Escuela capturing the Open Trot for Ed Hensley in 1:55.

Skip Smith photo

Escuela, driven by Ed Hensley, captured the Open Trot at Pompano Park on Monday night, stopping the timer in 1:55.

The 5-year-old daughter of ABC Garland, owned by Hensley along with trainer-wife Ashleigh Hensley, came from eight lengths out of it early on to score by three-parts of a length over Cashahallic, handled by Aaron Byron, with Uriel, teamed up with Kevin Wallis, third, one length away after cutting the fractions. Elin was fourth in the mile while Pounce Hanover grabbed the final nickel over Verdi. The favorite, Count Speed, on the engine and in the lead early, suffered a broken hobble just short of the opening marker and finished last.

At the outset, it was Count Speed motoring out from the Hummer starting gate to take command with Uriel alongside, Cashahallic away in good order and Pounce Hanover next. Just short of the :27.2 opener, Count Speed’s hobble snapped, sending that one on a break with Uriel then inheriting the lead measuring three lengths and leaving Cashahallic second and Pounce Hanover third with Escuela still near the back of the pack and some six lengths from the top through a half in a tepid :57.3.

On the backside, Hensley brushed Escuela up and during an official :28.4 third panel, dented that by more than five lengths, reaching the flank of the leader as they touched the third timer in 1:26.2. From there, Escuela dug in and drilled her way by Uriel, holding off Cashahallic with a :28.2 finale.

In a post race interview, Hensley said, “She’s a heckuva mare all right. She has a big motor and can go a long way when she’s got some room to roam.

“I was a bit worried when the leader took that second quarter breather but, heck, she came from way out of it a few weeks ago when the opening quarter was only :30, so when I tipped her out on the backside, she really felt strong and ready to rumble. Maybe she’s becoming the Ronda Rousey of race mares…she’s that tough!”

Escuela won for the ninth time this season in 30 starts to send her 2015 earnings to $74,270. The win also pushed her career bankroll to $152,226. As second choice in the wagering, Escuela paid $6.20 to win.

Two other 1:55 trotting miles were recorded on the Monday card as Lugar ($7.00) and She’s All In ($6.20) also stopped the clock in that time in their respective winning efforts.

Lugar, the Florida bred 7-year-old trained by Mark Friedman for the Polo Stables, used a :26.4 third panel to repel any developing threats and went on to score by a length in a wire-to-wire seasonal best effort for Mickey McNichol over Princess Crown (Wally Hennessey) with Dominum Deo (Jim McDonald) third. Favored My Revenuer finished fourth after a very mild backside bid while Master Host earned the final award in the field of seven in this conditioned event.

Lugar’s victory was his 26th lifetime and sent his career bounty to $213,466.

She’s All In, owned, trained and driven by Rick Plano, made her Pompano Park fall debut a winning one in the Open 2 Trot with her 1:55 score over Rainbow Gold (Dennis Duford), that winning margin 1-1/4 lengths. Gold Savage (Mickey McNichol) finished third after cutting the mustard with Super Duke and Highland Yankee next in the septet.

This 6-year-old mare came from well out of it halfway through the mile to score her 24th lifetime win. She has banked $211,354 during her career.

Other happenings around Pompano Park’s five-eighths-mile oval concerned the Pick-5 and pentafecta events. With no bettor able to select the winning combinations in either of these offerings, the track now has a carryover in both going into Tuesday night’s program. The Pick-5, covering races one through five, offers a carryover of $1,982 and a $7,500 guaranteed pool while the fourth race pentafecta has a carryover of $2,085.

With a carryover of $5,645 from an unscathed Pick-4 on Monday night, a $20,000 guaranteed pool has been added to Pompano Park’s Pick-4 on Tuesday.

Florida Stallion Stakes action continues on Tuesday night with four FSBOA sponsored events for 2- and 3-year-old pacers. The much anticipated rematch of Owosso Flash and Caesar’s Forum takes place as a non-wagering event scheduled for 6:20 p.m. Post time for the pari-mutuel card is 7:30 p.m.