by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — Man At The Line ($15.40) and driver Stephane Lareau swept four-wide in the backstretch and held game down the stretch to win the sixth annual Midnight Mile at Pompano Park on New Year’s Eve Friday/Saturday.
The world’s only horse race that spans two years, starting at 11:59 p.m. in 2004 and ending just after midnight in 2005, saw a tremendous performance by Man At The Line, who won by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:58.4.
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Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith
Man At The Line and driver Stephane Lareau capture the sixth annual Midnight Mile.
“It was a big effort by my horse,” said winning driver Stephane Lareau. “What a great way to end the year and start the new one. Happy New Year to everyone!”
The 12th race feature saw Race Like A Winner (David Ingraham) shoot to the early lead and then get overtaken by Brothers T And R (Bruce Ranger) by the opening quarter-mile. Tips Ahoy (Steve Oliwa) then came first over with Tree Hugger (Mark O’Mara) following the outside live cover by the half-mile pole.
But then the action heated up even more in the backstretch as Rubiano Hanover (Terry McIntyre) slipped out from third place on the rail as Tips Ahoy began to fade and Rubiano Hanover went right by Brothers T And R to take command. Meanwhile, Stephen Lareau had Man At The Line flying four-wide from seventh place and was parked three-wide around the final turn.
Then in a calvary charge to the finish, Man At The Line dug in and pulled away in the final strides at the wire. Great Millennium (Justin Manhar) was second with Ben Casey (Larry Silber) third.
It was the fourth win this year for Man At The Line, a four-year-old gelding by Magical Mike, who is owned and trained by James Weaver of Pompano Beach.
Turn It On ($6.40) lived up to her name for driver Bruce Ranger in the seventh race Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace with a 1:52.4 victory.
Hyde Park Hussie N (Joe Pavia, Jr.) led the field early with Starleen (David Ingraham) in the two hole past the opening quarter mile in :28.1. Ranger then came charging to the lead with Turn It On and cut the mile to the half in :56 and the three-quarters in 1:24.3 as Pavia pulled the pocket to challenge with Hyde Park Hussie N.
As they started down the stretch, Ranger urged Turn It On and the six-year-old mare by Jate Lobell found another gear to pull away and win by two open lengths. Hyde Park Hussie N was second with a late closing S F Misty (Kevin Wallis) third.
Turn It On closes out her 2004 season with eight wins for trainer Ed Prinz, Jr. and the Prinz, Smith and Fortino Stables.
The aptly named Don Pellegrino “popped the cork” at the seven/eighths mile pole and went on to win the sixth race trot Friday in a lifetime best clocking for the one mile race of 1:59.2.
Sent off at odds of 3-1 and driven to victory by Wally Hennessey, Don Pellegrino paid $8.40 to win in his sixth victory of the year for owner John Back and trainer Jim McDonald of Pompano Beach. Pacesetter Cumin On (Tom Sells) was second with Chilling Hit (David Ingraham) third.
The owners of the two bonus winning Florida-bred two-year-olds were honored after the first race Friday with their respective checks for $50,000 each.
Owners Anthony Amante and Christine Garrity of Delray Beach own Dee Day Fame, the top trotting colt and Jay and Brian Sears of Deerfield Beach own Florida Boy, the best pacing colt.
The $100,000 bonus is hosted by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and Pompano Park and is paid to any Florida-bred two-year-old that can win all four Florida Sires Stake finals.