by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — First Of Itskind, handled by Mike Simons, took full advantage of a sizzling :25.4 opening panel by the favored Sing For Me George (Kevin Wallis) and wore that one down in the final stages to score a repeat win in Pompano Park’s $12,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday night (March 12.)

Skip Smith photo

First Of Itskind captured his second consecutive featured pacing event at Pompano Park on Sunday evening.

The winner’s margin was 1-1/4 lengths at the end of the 1:50.4 mile with Rockntouch (Mickey McNichol) third, 3-3/4lengths away. Bluehourpower was fourth while Buddha Blue Chip picked up the nickel in the classy sextet.

At the outset, Sing For Me George, off as 3-5, zipped off the wings and blazed through the first quarter-mile in that aforementioned :25.4. While a :29.3 breather left Sing For Me George in front halfway through the mile in :55.2, First Of Itskind, away fourth, was on the move and able to sprint to within 2-1/2lengths of the leader.

On the backside, First Of Itskind kept grinding forward, denting a :27.2 third panel and moving within 1-1/2 lengths of the leader turning for home. In the lane, First Of Itskind, kept gnawing away, finally getting to the front a sixteenth from home and widening the margin to the line.

After the race, driver Mike Simons related, “I remember driving this horse a couple of years ago and, if I recall, the track was very heavy that day and he had an outside post, so he didn’t do too well. Jason (trainer Robinson) said he was very strong in winning his last start and can brush pretty good. He certainly did that tonight, because he just had real good determination and didn’t give up, even though he was out pretty much the entire last lap. He went a very courageous mile.”

Trained by Robinson for owner Robert Main, First Of Itskind, a 6-year-old gelded son of Western Terror, pushed his 2017 scorecard to 3-1-2 in seven starts, good for $22,140.

Lifetime, First Of Itskind won for the 19th time in 98 starts and now shows a career bankroll of $188,941

Off as the 8-5 second choice, First Of Itskind paid $5.20 to his faithful.

In other action, Northern Companion, a winning fixture here at Pompano Park over the past several seasons, reached a milestone on Sunday night by winning for the 50th time during his brilliant career.

Northern Companion, a 9-year-old gelded son of Cambest, was purchased for $8,500 from an Ohio sale back in 201. He has been a resident of the Howard Klohr Stable since then and has 40 of his 50 wins at Pompano Park.

Sunday night’s win, in a conditioned event was his first of the year from two starts and pushed his career bounty to $327,238. He raced this night under the banner of the Delray Duo Stable and returned $19.80 to win.

Racing continues on Monday night (March 13) with a Sunday Pick-5 carryover of $5,264 spawning a $25,000 guaranteed pool.

The Monday Pick-5 kicks off with race one.

The track is also offering a $10,000 guarantee on the Pick-4, conducted on races five through eight.

Pompano Park’s Pick-6 also went unscathed on Sunday night and has a carryover of $3,661 going into the Monday program.

Post time is 7:20 p.m.