by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Hypnotize rebounded from an uncharacteristic eighth-place finish in her most recent start by leading every step of the way en route to victory in Friday’s (Feb. 1) featured $14,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park in 1:53.1.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Hypnotize coasts to a 1:53.1 victory in the $14,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap.

Starting from post five with Kevin Wallis at the lines, Hypnotize was driven aggressively off the gate to take command of the race on the first turn, covering the opening quarter in :27 before slowing things down drastically with a second panel that went in :30 to reach the half-mile marker in :57.

The daughter of Artiscape was never presented with a true challenge down the backstretch, reaching the three-quarter split in 1:25.3, and charged home with a final quarter that went in :27.3 to score a one length victory.

Hypnotize returned $5.40, $5.80, and $3.20 for the triumph. Queens Gambit N (Dale Hiteman) brought in $9.80 and $3.80 for second, while Montana Moonlite A (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) paid $2.60 for third.

Owned by Louis Diffenback, Lisa Diffenback, William Mack, Jr., and trainer Jim Mattison, Hypnotize has been nominated to the inaugural $100,000 Frances Dodge Van Lennep Filly and Mare Pacing Series, which begins with the $20,000 preview at Pompano on Friday, February 8.

Stakes contenders qualify

Friday morning qualifiers at Pompano featured several horses that are eyeing a spot behind the starting gate for one of the three upcoming stakes events at the South Florida oval.

The 5-year-old trotting mare and Mack Lobell Trotting Series hopeful Buck I St Pat covered the mile in 1:55.3 when capturing her qualifying heat by 6-3/4 lengths with Ricky Macomber, Jr. at the lines. The daughter of Jailhouse Jesse was making her first appearance on the track since finishing third to Vivid Photo in the Patriot Invitational Trot at Colonial Downs on October 13.

In that same qualifying race, last year’s Mack Lobell final winner Tweedle Dum cut the mile in :27.3, :56.2, and 1:25.2 before going off-stride on the final turn and crossing the wire third.

Three races later, the millionaire pacer and Isle of Capri Pacing Series contender Maltese Artist won his qualifying heat in 1:53.4, leading from gate-to-wire to prevail by 2-3/4 lengths with Ronald Burke at the controls.

The son of Artiscape finished second in last year’s Isle of Capri final, using that performance as a springboard to a career best season where the gelding prevailed in 13 of 27 starts while amassing $1,053,803 in earnings to push his lifetime bankroll to $1.9 million.

Esmeralda Semalu, nominated to the Frances Dodge Van Lennep Filly and Mare Pacing Series, finished second, beaten 2-3/4 lengths by Maltese Artist.