by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – February 18, 2006 – Hop Sing ($3.60, $2.40, $2.40) was able to beat He Wants It All ($2.40, $2.60) to the wire and post a head triumph in winning the $50,000 second leg of the Isle of Capri Casinos Pacing Series at Pompano Park Saturday. Whodunit ($3.60) was third.

Crossing the wire in 1:50.2 for the one-mile race, Hop Sing set a track record for older geldings with this third straight victory on the season. Driven by Wally Hennessey, Hop Sing is the fastest and richest pacer in North America this year with earnings of $118,000 for owner Richard Annunziata of Mahopac, NY. Hop Sing had tied the track record for older geldings of 1:50.3 last week that was co-held with Time Share N (2001).

The 8th race feature started off with Hop Sing dueling on the outside with Glors Boys (Joe Pavia, Jr.) for control of the early lead and Hop Sing took command of the race after the opening quarter mile in :27.1. At the half mile mark in :56, He Wants It All, who had banged his head on the starting gate from post nine and had to be taken back at the start by Hall of Fame driver Dave Magee, had regrouped and was moving first-over on the outside to challenge Hop Sing.

He Wants It All, despite having to race on the outside the entire mile, was able to collar Hop Sing at the three-quarter mile pole in 1:22.3 and the two horses raced as a team around the final turn.

Then in the stretch, He Wants It All had a half length advantage but Hop Sing would not be denied and came back to win at the wire. Whodunit (Mickey McNichol) was game in the stretch and squeezed by Glors Boys to finish third by just one length.

“What a great race that was.” Said winning driver Wally Hennessey. “We were head and head coming down the stretch and He Wants It All started to move ahead and my horse got mad and he came back and dug in to win. It’s going to be a hellava final next week. I just hope my horse draws a good inside post.”

“My horse (He Wants It All) put in a huge effort tonight.” Said Dave Magee. “It was just one of those things that happen when the starting gate slapped him in the face at the start. It changed the whole race then because I had to take him back and then he had to race on the outside the entire mile. But after my horses performance tonight I am more confident going into next weeks final that he will win it. I could not believe he was able to get in front in the stretch and that Hop Sing actually came back to beat us. What a gallant effort Hop Sing put in too.”

It was the fourth win in six starts this year for Hop Sing, a five-year-old gelding by The Panderosa, who is trained by Ettore Annunziata.

Next Saturday, February 25, Pompano Park hosts the $159,000 final of the Isle of Capri Pacing Series where Hop Sing and He Wants It All will battle it out again. Also on the program will be the $82,600 final of the Mack Lobell Trotting Series and the $50,000 Red Bow Tie Pace for Florida-breds.

The top nine point earners eligible for the Isle of Capri Final in order are 1. Hop Sing, 2. He Wants It All, 3. Glors Boys, 4. Wherethemoneywentn, 5. Whodunit, 6. Chewy Gross, 7. Hot Rum, 8. Monuke and 9. Rob Roy Mattgregor.

George Napolitano, Jr. led all drivers and trainers on the night with a Grand Slam, training and driving four winners including an upset win with Hipeka A ($15.20) in the 6th race $9,000 Preferred Handicap Pace in 1:52.4.