by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pertty Music extended her winning streak to three at Pompano Park on Monday night (Feb. 2) with a sharp 1:52 victory in the $13,000 Open Handicap for pacing mares for owner/driver/trainer Ed Hensley.

The 5-year-old daughter of Jereme’s Jet pinned a hard earned defeat measuring just short of a length on Just A Bee, handled by Mike Micallef. Senorita Santanna, with George Napolitano Jr. in the bike, finished third, with Art Frenzy and Winbak Heavenly also earning a paycheck in the field of six.

Skip Smith photo

Pertty Music extended her winning streak to three in the Open Pace for mares.

A battle royal developed from the get-go with Senorita Santanna, Winbak Heavenly, P L Hula and Just A Bee all vying for supremacy with the latter, seeing no hope in making the top early, nestling in the fourth spot ahead of her main rival, Pertty Music.

After a hot :26.2 opener, with P L Hula making the top, Senorita Santanna wasn’t content in the garden spot and retook the lead and marched over to the half in :55.1 with P L Hula now second and Just A Bee, out with a lap to go, grinding away third with Pertty Music catching her live cover.

On the backside, the pace quickened and a :27.3 third quarter brought Senorita Santanna and Just A Bee on even terms past the third station in 1:22.4.

In the lane, Just A Bee gamely poked her head in front but couldn’t stall Pertty Music, who took command off her cover and edged clear to the wire.

In a post race interview, driver Ed Hensley said, “I would have liked to leave but all the others were smoking early, so that thought went out the window. Mike (Micallef) left with his mare (Just A Bee) pretty good and when he found a spot (fourth) I just dropped in behind him. The pace was pretty hot early and when he pulled I followed, so it turned out to be a real nice trip for my mare. She’s a ‘pertty’ handy mare, and she does everything I ask of her. She was good tonight again.”

Winning for the 17th time in her career, Pertty Music now has $234,522 lifetime on her card — $21,275 so far this year on the strength of her third win in five starts. Even money on the tote board, Pertty Music paid $4.00 to win.

The co-featured $10,000 Open 2 for pacing mares went to Luca Derrico’s De Vins Girl, handled by George Napolitano Jr.

This 8-year-old daughter of Red River Hanover overcame the outside nine post by using different tactics in taking the lead just past the :27.2 first panel and then wiring together fractions of :55.3 and 1:23.4 before sprinting home in :28.3 to seal the 1:52.2 deal measuring 3-1/2 lengths over Wind River Cat (Bruce Ranger) with Glam Cam (Dave Ingraham) third. Mach Me Not finished fourth and Express Jet picked up the nickel in the field of nine.

De Vins Girl earned her 31st lifetime win — first this season — to send her career bounty to $286,475.

Finally, Pompano Park’s Super Hi-5 again had multiple consolation winners of $107.46 for their 20 cent investment with the carryover going into the Tuesday night card approaching $100,000. Post time is 7:30 p.m.