by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The scratch of Jereme’s Jet from Saturday’s (March 17) $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park opened the door for Eleven A M to grab his third win from four starts this year, as the son of Falcon Seelster took the feature in 1:53.3.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Eleven A M (#4) holds off Golden Mattjesty (#2) to win the Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park in 1:53.3.

Driven from post four by Bruce Ranger, Eleven A M was quick off the gate, establishing his position on the front-end through an opening quarter in :28.2.

After a leisurely second quarter in :30 to reach the half-mile pole in :58.2, Eleven A M continued to show the way down the backstretch, reaching three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Eleven A M entered the stretch with a 1-3/4 length lead over the pocket-sitting Golden Mattjesty (Mickey Mc Nichol), who took advantage of an opening on the pylons to make a late charge at the leader, only to come up a neck shy at the wire.

Eleven A M returned $3.00 for the victory. Due to the short field caused by the scratches of both Jereme’s Jet and Shattered Halo, there was no place or show wagering available on the race.

Owned by the Berry Stables of Staten Island, N.Y., and trained by Tom Beckette, Eleven A M has won 18 of 59 starts during his career and has a lifetime bankroll of $342,453.

St. Patrick’s Day green

Norman Kelapire of Pompano Beach was the lucky recipient of a $1,000 betting voucher in the annual St. Patrick’s Day drawing from Pompano Park, while Winston Whyte of Lauderdale Lakes took home a $500 voucher.

A total of $5,000 was given away throughout the evening to 23 different winners, with drawings held after races four through eight.