Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park’s Monday night (Jan. 4) extravaganza lived up to its expectations and more as the night was highlighted with speed and toteboard fireworks leading up to a continuation of the excitement for the Tuesday night program with a record $150,000 guaranteed pool for the track’s Pick-5.

On the racing side, Lyons Night Hawk took top honors in the $11,000 Open Handicap Pace while Muscles For Life captured the $11,500 Open Handicap Trot.

Lyons Night Hawk, the 5-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou, put on an ultra-game performance in scoring a 1:50.3 wire-to-wire win for Kevin Wallis, surviving opening sizzlers of :26.1, :54 and 1:21.3 in the process.

The Joe Pavia Jr. trainee dug in tenaciously in the lane to hold off a stubborn Prairie Panther (Wally Hennessey) by a neck. Seeing Eye Single (Ricky Macomber Jr.) was just a nose further back in third after closing fastest of all. Kinnder Jackson was fourth, a half-length off the winner, while Bell I No picked up the nickel in the sextet with two lengths separating the entire field.

After the race, trainer Joe Pavia Jr. remarked, “I didn’t tell Kevin (driver Wallis) too much; only that he trained well and should be in the hunt. He’s a solid racehorse who has good speed and can take pressure and he had plenty of pressure tonight and didn’t give an inch. Of course, he’s very well cared for by Cheryl Holmen, so the credit for success begins right there with Cheryl.”

Owned by Lon Frocione, Lyons Night Hawk began his 2021 season with his 11 career win in 50 starts, sending his bounty to $283,713. Off as second choice at 4-1, Lyons Night Hawk paid $10.40 to win.

A $10,000 Open II Pace went to Skip To My Lou, yet another 5-year-old altered son of Sweet Lou, aggressively handled by Joe Chindano Jr., who also owns and trains. Skip To My Lou hit the wire in 1:51.3, hanging a narrow defeat on Real Peace (Ricky Macomber Jr.) with Mac Anover (Kevin Wallis) next. The win was the 10th in 49 lifetime starts for Skip To My Lou, who has now banked $117,081. Off at 2-1, Skip To My Lou paid $6.40 to his many faithful.

The victory spoiled the anticipated party of Southwind Amazon, who was seeking his 100th career victory. He finished fifth.

Muscles For Life took top honors in Pompano Park’s top trot on Monday night. Dee Leftwich photo.

On the trotting side of the ledger, Muscles For Life took advantage of a miscue by the favorite DG’s Caviar and went on to score a handy win in 1:54.1. Driven by Wally Hennessey for trainer Steve Oldford and owner Jarold Hawks, Muscles For Life, an 8-year-old son of Muscle Mass, led just about every long stride of his mile, chalking up fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26 before a :28.1 stroll home sealed the deal measuring 3-1/4 lengths over DG’s Caviar (Andy Shetler), who recovered gamely after his miscue to finish second. Born To Thrive (Rick Plano) was third. The Lionking AS and Bucketlist Hanover picked up the minors.

Said Hennessey after the event, “He’s just a solid, versatile horse that does everything you ask him to do. I wanted to get a jump on the field and especially (DG’s) Caviar, and that worked out well for us as we got to the half very comfortably. I was pretty confident once we were there in :57 and a piece.”

Muscles For Life now has 33 career wins in 94 starts, good for $353,845. As the 6-5 second choice on the toteboard, Muscles For Life paid $4.60 to win.

The Open II Trot went to the veteran warrior Cantab Lindy, now 13 years old. The gelded son of Cantab Hall, owned and trained by Brent Davis, had John MacDonald in his sulky as he led every step of a 1:54.1 mile off panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:25. Ev’s Girl (Joe Chindano Jr.) was in the garden spot all the way and finished second, two lengths away, while My Uncle Cuz (Don Harmon) was next. The favorite Sooo Handsome finished fourth while Boinganator picked up the final award.

Cantab Lindy won for the 54th time in 228 lifetime starts with his bankroll expanding to $641,847. He paid $13.80 as third choice in the betting.

Toteboard fireworks continued again on Monday as nary a single favorite was able to reach the winner’s circle in the Pick-5 with a 20-1 chance Manceiver (driven by Denny Bucceri) kicking off that wager and a 41-1 outsider Whatchyastarinat (handled by Bryce Fenn) clicking in the fourth leg, resulting in that Pick-5 being unscathed on Monday, with a record $150,000 guaranteed pool on tap for the Tuesday program.

And with Whatchyastarinat scoring in the fourth race pentafecta, that 2-4-8-5-1 combination returned $12,901.82 for the 20-cent ducat.

The first of two $30,000 guaranteed pools on the Pick-4 was spiced up early as Deli-craze (Dave Ingraham) scored a 28-1 upset, keying the first Pick-4 payout of $2,205.70 for the 50-cent ticket.

There is also a carryover in the Pick-6 for Tuesday of $4,590 and the Super Hi-5 finale now has a carryover of $53,618.71.

Post time is set for 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday.