by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Panocchio, again handled by Wally Hennessey, scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s Open Handicap Pace on Sunday night (Oct. 22), holding off the determined late surge of Sing For Me George (John MacDonald) by a head in 1:51.2.

Skip Smith photo

Panocchio held off the surging Sing For Me George to score a repeat win at Pompano Park on Sunday night.

The brilliant 7-year-old gelded son of No Pan Intended, co-owned by trainer Jim Mattison along with Emile Johnson, Jr., carved out all the panels, slicing through the opener in :27 before adding :55.2 and 1:23.4 to the mix before sealing the deal with a :27.3 finale.

Frankies Dragon (Corey Braden) finished third while Bestinthebusiness and Rockntouch also earned checks in the classy sextet.

In a post-race interview, Hennessey remarked, “What can I say that hasn’t been said already? He’s just as game as they come and as handy as they come. Johnny’s (MacDonald) horse (Sing For Me George) is very sharp now, too, and he was rolling late but Panocchio seems to know where the wire is and he kept on going until it was over.”

Panocchio now has 56 career wins in 134 starts with 34 of those victories at Pompano Park, including his 1:48.3 track record. For this semester, Panocchio has a 8-6-3 scorecard in 26 starts, good for $75,525, pushing his lifetime bankroll to $472.843. Off at 1-5 on the toteboard, Panocchio paid $2.40 to win.

Silver Wings was one of the four 2-year-old winners in the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes on Sunday night, conducted as non-wagering events prior to the pari-mutuel card. Diamond Eyes, Captain Thomas and I Rhoda Daley were the other juvenile winners.

Silver Wings, a son of Rock On, took top honors in the colt and gelding pace with Corey Braden handling the lines, in a lifetime best 1:58.4. Co-owned by trainer Veral Bowman along with Craig Schmidt, Silver Wings won the early battle for supremacy over Jay Jay (John MacDonald) and then sliced through panels of :29.1, 1:00.4 and 1:30.1 before silencing his foes with a :28.3 closer to score by 4-1/2 lengths over Jay Jay with Dontblevmejuswatch (Wally Hennessey) and Mister Special T completing the official order of finish.

Diamond Eyes, a daughter of Six Of Diamonds trained by Kim Sears for owner Penny Kelley, got picture perfect handling from Bryce Fenn to score in a lifetime best 2:01.4-:59.1-:29.1 performance in the 2-year-old filly pace. This youngster left alertly and battled with Krinda before allowing that one to take command at the opening station in :30.4. Krinda actually opened up a three length advantage around the final turn but Diamond Eyes began gnawing away, taking command once they straightened away and then holding off Prairie Foolish (Jim Meittinis) by a length. Starcasim (Joe Sanzeri) was a fast closing third with Krinda fourth. Six Line Lily picked up the minor award.

Captain Thomas, a maiden coming into the action, led every step of his mile, going on to score a 5-1/4 length win for John MacDonald in the 2-year-old trot for colts and geldings. This gelded son of Proud Bushy put up numbers of :29.4, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2 before a stroll home stopped the timer in 2:02.1. Trained by Kim Sears for owner John Campagnuolo, Captain Thomas left Brian (Wally Hennessey), Prairie Eclipse (Meittinis), Jiro Dangerous and Treasure Quest in his wake.

Finally, the Sunshine State Stake for juvenile trotting fillies went to I Rhoda Daley for Wally Hennessey in a lifetime best 2:04.1. It was about one month ago that this daughter of Desperado Don won her first lifetime start in 2:14. She is now four-for-five lifetime for trainer Jason MacDougall, who co-owns with Lee Clarke.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with Sunshine State Stakes action continuing for 3-year-old Florida breds in five non-wagering events beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a full 10-race pari-mutuel card following at 7:20 p.m. The Super Hi-5 finale on Wednesday night features a carryover of $5,507.