by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Despite a deluge of continual rain and a brief malfunction of the starting gate, Pompano Park put on quite a show on Sunday night (May 13) as Four Socks scored a repeat in in the featured pace while Wally Hennessey and Mickey McNichol shared the limelight in the winner’s circle.

While the rain left the racing surface sloppy, another unseen obstacle brought back memories of what racing was like prior to the invention of Steve Phillips’ starting gate in 1946.

After the opening race, the belt snapped on the Silver Bullet starting gate forcing a “gentlemen’s start” for the next three races, an issue that proved to be “no issue” during the next three races until the belt was replaced.

Of the issue, driver Wally Hennessey remarked, “Actually, it turned out to be ‘no issue’ at all as all of us have been around the block before and knew exactly what to do. The starter (Adam Brownlee) handled things perfectly.”

Skip Smith photo

Four Socks scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s Sunday night feature.

Four Socks, with Hennessey in his bike, led from first long stride to his final longer stride in scoring a 1:52.3 win over the sloppy track, one tick faster than his win on a fast track a week ago.

The rugged 8-year-old gelded son of I Scoot Hanover practically pushed the starting gate out of his way at the start and, in what seemed to be an instant, opened up a four length lead and never looked back, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths off of panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:24.4 en route to his fourth win of the year.

Dee’s Rocketman, driven by Mickey McNichol, was away in the garden spot and chased the winner the entire mile while Major Starlight, handled by Dave Ingraham, was next. Team Captain finished fourth while Surge Seelster picked up the nickel in the 5-4-3-2-1 barber pole finish.

After the race, Hennessey remarked, “You never know what to expect on a sloppy track but Mike (trainer Murphy) has him so sharp these days that driving Four Socks is like driving a machine. I was a little concerned with some of the ones having inside posts with their early speed but my horse was on sprint mode leaving and, in a blink of an eye, I had several lengths on them. He was amazing tonight. Again, give credit to Barbara (Murphy) and Joan (Uszak) for the care they give this horse.”

Four Socks has banked $21,708 this semester and $185,634 lifetime to go along with his 1:50.1 mark at Hoosier Park. Off at 1-5 on the toteboard, Four Socks paid $2.40 to his multitude of faithful.

The win was one of four for Hennessey, who also scored with Fritzie Pic Up Man ($6.80), Silver Wings ($7.00) and Brown Titan ($4.60).

Hennessey had to share the spotlight with Mickey McNichol, who had three winners on the eight-race program. McNichol steered Blueberry Heaven ($4.00), Sing For Me George ($4.20) and Great Soul ($3.00) to wins as Hennessey and McNichol swept seven of the eight races on the card — the lone other one being the Amateur Driving Club event won by Garlandsandpearls ($8.00), skimming the pylons for Dein Spriggs late to nail Zorgwijk Impact, driven by Joe Pennacchio, by a head. Bad Cantab (Billy Muggleston) finished third in the mile clocked in 2:00.1 in the slop.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with a Super Hi-5 carryover approaching $10,000. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.