Pompano Beach, FL – Seeing Eye Single, catch-driven by Rick Plano for David Miller, who is returning north, piloted Seeing Eye Single to a repeat win in the $14,200 Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park on Sunday night (April 3), stopping the timer in 1:50.3.

The gallant 7-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again coupled a :55.2 opening half mile with a :55.1 final half to report home 1 1/4 lengths the best of the pocket-sitting Agedchedar Hanover (John MacDonald) with JM’s Delight (Greg Merton) third, another neck back. The 2-5 favorite, Prairie Panther, handicapped again with a second tier post in the field of six, was fourth while Actor Hanover was an evenly-rated fifth in the contest.

Seeing Eye Single, catch-driven by Rick Plano, scored a repeat victory in Pompano Park’s Open Pace on Sunday, stopping the timer in 1:50.3. Jessica Hallett photo

As the wings folded, Agedchedar Hanover used his rail post to perfection by leaving with alacrity with JM’s Delight and Actor Hanover and Seeing Eye Single also floating out and looking for a spot a bit closer up as the leader was really motoring on. But no spot opened up back of Agedchedar Hanover and that forced Plano’s hand with Seeing Eye Single to go on and he forged to the top a few strides after the :27 opener.

While he did enjoy a bit of a breather during the :28.2 second panel, Seeing Eye Single met a serious encounter from JM’s Delight during a :27;2 third split but Seeing Eye Single still had a :27.4 panel under his girth in the lane and was in no danger in the late stages.

Driver Plano related after the event, “I noticed Wally (Hennessey) probably wasn’t going to get away as close as he wanted from that second tier and so I thought I’d try and find a spot a little closer but what I thought would be a spot closed up, so I had to be either hung out or go forward. I chirped once or twice and he accelerated like I’ve seen him do before for David (Miller) and, when we met some heat around the final bend, he seemed to grit his teeth and went on…like the good horse he is.”

Seeing Eye Single is trained by Devan Miller for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

The win was the fifth of the year for Seeing Eye Single with his earnings vaulting to $53,009 this semester and $579,242 lifetime.

He paid $6.20 as the second choice in the wagering.

The win was one of three wins for Plano on the Sunday program and it was a consecutive hat trick for the 70-year-old marvel as he also won with Trashytonguetalker the race before and VP Power the race after the Open.

The $12,600 Open II Pace went to Scootnroll for MacDonald in a snappy 1:50.4, a season’s best performance.

The 5-year-old altered son of Roll With Joe laid off the hot early pace as the lead changed hooves and closed with tenacity to score by a neck over Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.). Warrawee Veloce (Tyler Jones), the longest prop on the board at 43-1, closed fastest of all to finish third. The early leader and 3-5 favorite, Real Peace, was fourth while Hard Rock Hulk picked up the nickel in the septet.

Trained by John Hallett for owners Rick Howles, Geoff Howles and Souren Hovsepian, Scootnroll paid $14.20 to win as fourth choice and sent his career bankroll to $162,592–$26,752 so far this young season.

Racing continues on Monday (April 4) with a blockbuster 12-race program featuring a pair of Pick-4 events, each with a $15,000 guaranteed pool, highlighted by an industry low 12-percent takeout, and a Super Hi-5 carryover now approaching $130,000.

But the Monday feature is, no doubt, the most anticipated event since the appearance of Niatross on Dec. 27, 1980–the Prewitt-Aiello Match Race, which will be contested between races four and five. Famed announcers Pete Aiello from Gulfstream Park and Pompano Park’s own Gabe Prewitt will go at it in a highly spirited race benefiting equine aftercare for retired race horses.

Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.