by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Modern Mercury, cleverly handled by George Napolitano Jr., took top honors in Pompano Park’s $8,500 Open Trot for mares on Tuesday night (Feb. 28), orbiting past her rivals turning home to score by two lengths in a lifetime best performance in 1:54.3.

Skip Smith photo

Modern Mercury took Pompano Park’s Open Trot for Mares on Tuesday night, stopping the clock in a lifetime best 1:54.3.

The 4-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover pinned the defeat on Serendipitious, driven by Wally Hennessey. Celebrity Artemis, with Marcello Spano in the sulky, finished third, 2-3/4 lengths off the winner. She’s All In, prominent throughout the mile, finished fourth. Bad Angel, last in the septet until mid-stretch, rallied to pick up the nickel.

It was Serendipitious winning the initial war for the top spot as she out-dueled She’s All In to the opening turn to take command and blitz an opening panel in :27.2 and half-mile in :56.2. At the halfway juncture, She’s All In remained cozy in her pocket with Celebrity Artemis next and M T Ur Pockets on the move from fourth and Modern Mercury picking up her cover.

On the backside, Serendipitious began to pick up the pace as She’s All In continued patient while M T Ur Pockets was stalling a bit on the outside, forcing Napolitano to make a decision on when to tilt wide. Just past the third station, “Nap” sent Modern Mercury into orbit and turning for home, already had her sights on Serendipitious. At mid-stretch, it was virtually all over as Modern Mercury was on her way to victory with her :29 finale.

After the event, driver George Napolitano Jr. remarked, “(In) the last couple of starts, she did race good against the boys and being in with her own kind helped a lot. When I tilted her out wide turning for home, she was very willing to finish the job. She’s a pretty solid mare.”

Trained by Rob Harmon for owner John Campagnuolo, Modern Mercury won for the fourth time this year in eight starts, sending her seasonal earnings to $19,075. Lifetime, she now has nine wins and a career bounty of $70,175 to go along with her new mark tonight.

As the 6-5 top choice, Modern Mercury paid $4.40 to win.

Racing continues on Wednesday night (March 1) with a carryover in the Pick-6, a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $24,307. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.