by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — GT Miss Royal captured the $12,500 final of the Success Cameo Late Closer at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (Dec. 4), stopping the timer in 1:53.3.

Dee Leftwich photo

GT Miss Royal and Jason Dillander teamed up to capture the $12,500 Success Cameo Late Closer final at Pompano Park on Wednesday night.

The 10-year-old daughter of Pilgrims Punch was driven to her half-length victory by Jason Dillander, who was in the bike for trainer Fred Cohen and owner Ryan Bellamy.

To Tell The Truth, handled by Rick Plano, finished second while Tip N Go was third for Wally Hennessey. Slickety Split and Foxy Ginger earned the final two awards.

It was Tip N Go that was on the bullet train first and she took the field to the quarter in a sharp :26.4 with To Tell The Truth and Harlem Rockturne, also showing gate speed from post eight, next in line. Plano then made a quarter move to the top and took the field halfway through the mile in :56.1 with Powdered Donut on the attack and Tip N Go enjoying a garden journey in third.

As they straightened away for the backstretch tour, GT Miss Royal was on the move from fifth but was forced into a three wide move as her cover faltered. To Tell The Truth used her muscle to take the field past three-quarters in 1:24.1 and actually forced GT Miss Royal back towards the inside turning for home.

In mid-stretch, it looked like To Tell The Truth was home free but GT Miss Royal exploded by in the final yards to reach the winner’s circle for the 30th time in her career — but only the third time this year.

After the race, Dillander said, “I thought we were pretty much going for the minors when we turned for home but she got a second wind and blew by late. She gave me a good hint in her last start when she finished second but I really didn’t think we were going to catch the leader, especially after that three wide move around the final turn.”

GT MIss Royal was second choice in the wagering — narrowly — and paid $11.40 to win.

In the $10,000 Open Trot, Pure Barre, handled by Kevin Wallis, took the top honors, hitting the wire in a new lifetime mark of 1:54. The 4-5 tote-board favorite, Andover America, was second for Bruce Ranger while She’s All In and Rick Plano teamed up for show honors. Lugar was fourth in the mile while Illusionsndreams picked up the nickel.

Pure Barre, a 5-year-old daughter of Classic Photo, went up to take the lead past the quick :27 opener and led, virtually, the rest of the way, clocking fractions of :56 and 1:24.3, although she was headed for a few steps past the third station by I’ll Tell You What, who eventually finished sixth.

After repelling that bid, she actually drew off at the end of the mile, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths.

Pure Barre’s win was the ninth of the year for owner-trainer Tom Gonsalves and sent her 2013 bounty to $90,405. She paid $11.60 as the third choice on the board.

The Open 2 Trot went to CJ’s Rascal, owned by Hauck’s Racing Stable. The 6-year-old altered son of CJ’s Secret stepped up a notch after a win in Open 3 company a week ago to score in 1:56.1 over HP Forte (Mark O’Mara) and Mr Joe Sixpack (Kevin Wallis). Permanent Joy and Surface Tension rounded out the top five in the field of eight.

CJ’s Rascal won for the sixth time this year to send his 2013 bounty to $58,488.

The Open 3 Trot proved to be the first half of a “natural double” for trainer Don Glowacki as the game 7-year-old mare Dutchess Seelster, driven by Wally Hennessey, held on for dear life to score a nose decision over B C Lulu and Rick Plano in 1:55. Thekeptman and Andy Santeramo were also in the photograph and only a neck away from the winner’s circle.

Owned by John Campagnuolo, Dutchess Seelster won for the 25th time in her career — fifth this year — to send her lifetime earnings to $247,463. She paid $7.40 to win.

Glowacki completed his feat when Robert Law’s Seton Hall, driven by Rick Plano, scored in a lifetime equalling best effort of 1:52.3 for his 54th lifetime win in 340 starts. He’s banked $322,408 lifetime.

Seton Hall accomplished his victory despite starting from the nine post in the $4,000 claiming event and paid $41.20 to win.