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

Pompano Beach, FL — Diva Diva ($22.80), the lone mare in the field against seven male rivals, upset the field at odds of 10-1 in winning the $12,000 Open Trot at Pompano Park on Wednesday, July 9.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Diva Diva beat the boys in the $12,000 Open Trot in 1:56.

Driven by Andy Santeramo, Diva Diva took full advantage of a pocket-trip behind pacesetter Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger) in posting her fifth win this year.

The seventh race feature started off with Guy Gets Girl outdueling Diva Diva for the early lead by the opening quarter in :27.4. Gale Warning (Wally Hennessey) then came first-over before the half-mile pole in :58 to challenge the leaders, giving cover to Terminator Hall (Jim McDonald).

As the field reached the three-quarter marker in 1:26.3, Table Wine (Dan Clements), who had won the top trot the last two weeks, moved three-wide on the final turn but it was Diva Diva and Santeramo who came out of the pocket, collaring Guy Gets Girl and passing him by for a half-length triumph in 1:56. Gale Warning was third.

A winner in three of her past five starts, Diva Diva is a 5-year-old mare by Yankee Paco from the Mr Vic mare Lean Cuisine. She is trained by Andy Santaramo and is owned by Joel Benson. Her time of 1:56 was just one-fifth of a second from tying her lifetime mark of 1:55.4.

Driver Bruce Ranger had the hot hands Wednesday, scoring a grand slam with four winners on the program.