by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Escuela, deftly handled by Ed Hensley, stretched her winning streak to three with a sharp 1:54.2 win in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Handicap Trot on Monday night (Nov. 30).

Escuela, handled by Ed Hensley, extended her winning streak to three on Monday night, covering her journey in 1:54.2.

The 5-year-old daughter of ABC Garland, owned by the Hensleys — Ed and trainer Ashleigh — overcame the handicap of the outside seven post and six rivals to score her 11th win of the year and 21st lifetime, sending her seasonal bounty to $85,270. She now has career earnings of $162,726.

Rainbow Gold was second for Steve Condren while I’ll Tell You What, driven by Brad Kramer, finished third. She’s All In was fourth while Uriel picked up the final check in the septet.

With five lead changes in the mile, it was She’s All In leaving with alacrity and taking command early with Sailer Eddie also showing speed from the get-go, with the latter taking command at the opener in :27.3.

Right at that opening marker, Uriel was on the move from third and brushed to the lead around turn two and took the field to the half in :56. On the backside, Rainbow Gold, out and driving into the second turn, brushed by Uriel midway around the final turn with the three-quarters on the board in 1:25.4.

But Escuela, who wended her way into fifth early on, drafted along with that live cover following Rainbow Gold and exploded by turning for home and drew away to score by 3-3/4 lengths.

In a post race interview, driver Ed Hensley said, “She’s got some motor, doesn’t she? When I set her down for the drive, she just exploded with another of her knockout punches and that was that! She’s feeling pretty good right now so we have to enjoy this while we got it. Believe me when I tell you that times like this don’t last forever, so we have to be thankful!”

As the even money toteboard favorite, Escuela paid $4.20 to win.

Skip Smith photos

Wally Hennessey was feted on Monday as he pierced the $60 million mark in purse earnings. He was joined in the winner’s circle by brother Dan, wife Barbara, daughter Kristy and M.C. John Berry.

Also on Monday night, Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey was honored after the third race for achieving a milestone of $60 million in purses for the many owners that have benefited from his driving skills over the past four decades.

Hennessey, once again, is closing in on 200 wins for the year, a plateau he has accomplished in 26 different seasons — his career total now approaching 8,900.

He celebrated the occasion by sweeping the early daily double, first driving Paul and Patricia O’Neil’s Verdi to a popular win in the Monday night opener and following that a wire-to-wire win with Goldstar Classic, owned by Tim Rzepka, Kevin Kelly, Joseph Connors and Vincent Giorlando — both winners trained by Dan Hennessey.

Racing continues Tuesday night with first post for the 11 race program at 7:30 p.m.