by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Groovey Kid and Goldstar Rockette took their respective co-featured races as Pompano Park closed out its 2016-2017 126 night stand in grand fashion on Wednesday (May 31).

Groovey Kid, again handled by driver Wally Hennessey for trainer Dan Hennessey and owner John Campagnuolo, scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s $9,500 Open Handicap Trot, again using a devastating backside brush to sweep into the lead on the final turn and then on to a 2-1/4 length victory over My Revenuer, handled by Bryce Fenn. The time was 1:55.3. Seeking Steven, with Dave Ingraham in the sulky, finished third, four lengths away while Skyway Pippen finished fourth. Legend Field picked up the minor award in this classy quintet.

At the outset, Groovey Kid was away three lengths off the gate as Seeking Steven went charging out for the early lead with My Revenuer in pursuit and taking command shortly after the tepid :28.1 opener. Legend Field was fourth at this juncture with Groovey Kid last, about seven lengths off the lead but tightening up around the second turn and on the way to a :57.4 half clocked by My Revenuer.

On the backside, Nick Coblentz sent Legend Field on the prowl and Hennessey gave Groovey Kid room to roam on a double-bubble surge that put him alongside My Revenuer at the third station in 1:27. Turning for home, Groovey Kid was all on his own during a :28.3 finale and home free in the aforementioned 1:55.3.

In a post-race interview, Hennessey remarked, “I am always careful leaving with this horse as he can be hard to handle. But when he gets some room to roam and puts himself in first gear, he can go a long way. He was all on his own the final three-eighths of the mile.”

Groovey Kid now has a 5-4-0 scorecard in 19 starts, good for $28,975. Lifetime the 6-year-old gelded son of Cincinnati Kid has 25 victories in 137 career starts and bounty of $146,240. Though Groovey Kid whipped a similar field one week ago, he went off as the second choice at 8-5 and returned $5.20 to win.

Skip Smith photo

Goldstar Rockette captured the Mares Open Pace at Pompano Park on Wednesday night in a career best 1:51.4.

The companion $9,500 co-feature for the pacing mares went to Goldstar Rockette, driven by Bryce Fenn, in a lifetime best 1:51.4.

The 7-year-old daughter of Rock On used a backside double-bubble blitz to go from fourth, two lengths away, to two lengths on top past the third station on her way to an easy win measuring 4-3/4 lengths over the late charging Excelerated Speed, handled by Walter Ross Jr. Andro Madi, with Joe Sanzeri in the bike, was third, 8-3/4 lengths away, with Fashion Ruffles fourth. Layer Cake picked up the nickel in the septet.

As the Hummer Starting Gate left the station, the second choice, Sue’s Night Out, and the favorite, Spilling The Beans, got in a war early with the latter out-dueling the former in a vicious opening quarter of :26.2 with Layer Cake next and Goldstar Rockette, leaving from the outside post, nestling into fourth.

Spilling The Beans took the field through a sweltering half in :55 and that is where Goldstar Rockette was sent on her mission from fourth, surging three wide into the final turn and into her insurmountable lead that widened with every stride to the wire.

After the race, driver Fenn said, “That was a ‘wow’ journey. When I sent her, she was very anxious with pace and really felt strong right to the wire. She impressed me to no end!”

For Goldstar Rockette, who was zero for 14 a week ago, she now is two for 16 with $30,247 on her card to go along with her new mark. Lifetime, she has $171,085 in career bounty. As the 3-1 third choice, Goldstar Rockette paid $8.40 to win.

Also on closing night, the Super Hi-5, with its $36,007 carryover, attracted some $62,000 in new money, bringing the total pool over $98,000. There were 318 winning 20-cent combinations sold, each worth $275.38.

The Hennessey brothers swept the driving and training titles this season with Wally chalking up 265 victories as the leading driver and older brother Dan taking the training title with 49 wins and a UTR of .460. Wally’s UDR over 925 starts pushed an amazing .450.

Pari-mutuel racing returns on Sunday (Oct. 1) with the first of 126 nights of world class racing.