by Steve Wolf, senior director of racing operations, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Hypnotize ($5.80) was able to return to her winning ways on Friday (June 20) at Pompano Park as she lulled the field asleep in posting her fifth victory of the season with a 1:55.1 triumph over a sloppy, rain-soaked track.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Hypnotize posted her fifth win this year with a half-length victory in 1:55.1.

Starting from post five in the third race $12,000 Mares Open Pace, Hypnotize and driver Dan Clements saw Velvet Eileen and driver Wally Hennessey shoot right to the early lead but they came right after the race favorite and took command by the opening quarter in a speedy :26.4.

But Hennessey wanted control of the pace and he came right back with Velvet Eileen with a quarter move and then led the field to the half-mile in :56.3. Then in the backstretch, Lucy Lucy (Bob Roberts) mounted a first-over challenge but could not catch up to the leaders at the three-quarter mark in 1:25.1.

It then became a two-horse race to the finish as Clements came after Hennessey with Hypnotize gaining ground with every stride against Velvet Eileen and finally passing her by. Hypnotize then held off a late charge by Stonebridge Capri (Bruce Ranger) to win by a half-length with Velvet Eileen third.

It was the 30th career victory for Hypnotize, a 6-year-old mare by Artiscape, who is trained by Jim Mattison for the Diffenback, Mattison and Mack, Jr. Stables.

Undefeated Floridian 2-year-old pacing filly champion Alice Springs won her qualifying race on Friday morning by 16-1/2 lengths in 1:57 for driver Wally Hennessey. Alice Springs was 11 for 11 in 2007 and is just two wins away from tying the track record for most consecutive wins. That record is co-held by Tweedle Dum (2006) and You’re Next (2007).