Pompano Beach, FL — Prairie Westerngal and In Secret were victorious at Pompano Park as the South Florida five-eighths-mile oval presented twin $11,000 features on Tuesday (March 23).

Prairie Westerngal, a 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, was driven to victory by Wally Hennessey in the Mares Open Handicap Pace and toured the mile in 1:53, defeating the late charging Casie’s Believer (Joe Chindano Jr.) by three-parts of a length. Crisp Mane (David Miller) was third, two lengths away.

As the wings folded, Prairie Westerngal used her usual sprinting alacrity from her outside post to take immediate command and zip an opening quarter of :26.2. With no immediate threats looming, Hennessey gave a relaxed Prairie Westerngal a breather and got to the half in :56.1. The pace did pick up on the backside as Crisp Mane made a bid from third and got within a length of the leader at the third station in 1:24.1. In the lane, Prairie Westerngal drew clear once again as only Casie’s Believer was able to do any serious denting through an official final panel of :28.4.

After the race, Hennessey said, “She sure knows how to push the gate out of her way. She’s really sharp right now and Mike (trainer Deters) has her razor sharp. She is a very determined mare.”

Trainer Deters co-owns the mare with Laurie Poulin and Fritz Racing and she now sports a 3-3-1 scorecard in 10 starts this semester, good for $27,950. She’s banked $171,903 lifetime. As the 4-5 favorite, Prairie Westerngal paid $3.60 to win.

Roughly 25 minutes later, Deters completed the training sweep of the early Daily Double as Burn Notice, driven by Braxton Boyd, put on a gritty performance in scoring a photo finish win in the $10,000 Open II Trot.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Cayenne Turbo marched up from first over on the backside to engage the leader around the final bend, took charge once straightened away and held off Stick With Me Kid (Hennessey) by a head. Favored Sooo Handsome (Rick Plano) finished third after making a miscue early in the mile and dropped back to last halfway through.

Owned by WHR Trust, Burn Notice earned his second straight win and third of the year in sending his 2021 bounty to $17,390. As fourth choice in the betting at 9-1, Burn Notice paid $21.60 to win to complete the $39.00 early Daily Double.

In Secret captured the Open Trot at Pompano on Tuesday. Dee Leftwich photo.

In the $11,000 Open Handicap Trot, In Secret, with Miller in the sulky, scored a handy win in 1:54, his winning margin 1-1/2 lengths over Born To Thrive (Plano) with BJ Lorado (Boyd), the longest proposition on the board, third.

In Secret, away in good order fourth, made a quarter move after the :27.2 opener and went on to post numbers of :56.2 and 1:25 before remaining unscathed during his :29 closer.

Trained by Devan Miller for owner Sylvia Burke, In Secret, a 9-year-old son of Deweycheatumnhowe, won for the 44th time during an illustrious career which boasts earnings of $881,628. In Secret paid $2.80 to win.

In the $10,000 Open II Pace for Mares, Tempus Seelster, confidently driven by John MacDonald, enjoyed a slight dip in class to score a handy win in 1:52.3.

The 8-year-old daughter of Big Jim took command a stride or two past the :27.4 opening marker and proceeded on hitting beams of :56.1 and 1:24.2 before sealing the issue with a :28.1 finale to score by almost three lengths over the late charging Beach Journey (Miller). She’sgotitgoingon (Don Harmon) finished third.

Trained by Rob Rittof for Dandy Farms Racing and FT Racing Stable, Tempus Seelster won for the third time this year and 39th career-wise to send her lifetime earnings to $338,021. Off at 1-2, Tempus Seelster paid $3.00 to win.

Also of note, one of the new budding stars in the Rick Plano Stable, Flagman, extended his winning streak to three since his arrival earlier this month with a 1:55.3 win as he stepped up the ladder once more to Open III company. The 4-year-old gelded son of Guccio came from well off the pace to score by a widening two lengths. Plano also trains the winner for Maryann Plano.

Driver David Miller had another grand slam on the program, driving Penn ($3.60), Beach Forecast ($2.40) and Roll With Angel ($2.60) to popular victories in addition to the aforementioned In Secret.

Racing continues on Thursday night with a $15,000 guarantee on the Pick-4 offering (with an industry low 12 percent takeout) and a Super Hi-5 jackpot at $98,428.71. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.