by John Berry, for Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — Sing For Me George, getting picturesque handling from Mickey McNichol, took top honors in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Pace on Sunday night (Jan. 7) as the 10-race program produced a season high handle of $754,675.
The 9-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight tuned out his seven rivals with a 1:52.3 performance, silencing the fast closing Fritzie Pic Up Man, driven by Dave Ingraham, by a length with Drachan Hanover, teamed up with Wally Hennessey, third, another half-length back. Hollywood Sign finished fourth after an even performance while Bestinthebusiness picked up the nickel in the classy septet.
Skip Smith photo
Sing For Me George took top honors in Pompano Park’s Open Pace on Sunday night.
At the outset, Sing For Me George left from the coveted post five and surged right to the front but yielded to Drachan Hanover just short of the opening marker reached in :27.2. From there, Sing For Me George enjoyed the pocket trip as Drachan Hanover reached the half in :55.4, as opposed to last week when he won off of an initial half in :57. On the backside, things began to heat up as Bestinthebusiness made his bid while McNichol sat chilly in the pocket on the helmet of the leader. Turning for home, McNichol tilted Sing For Me George out and he gnawed his way to the front, easily holding off the late surging Fritzie Pic Up Man at the wire.
In a post race interview, McNichol related, “Sing For Me George has a huge heart…a huge will to win. It’s not like he doesn’t have his aches and pains — all athletes have their aches and pains after competing at the highest level — but he sure has that winning attitude.”
McNichol trains Sing For Me George for owner Joseph Martinelli Sr.
Kicking off his 2018 season, Sing For Me George won for the 28th time in his career measuring 156 starts, sending his lifetime bankroll to $483,371. As the 6-5 toteboard favorite, Sing For Me George paid $4.60 to win.
The $9,500 Open II Pace went to Winyard Hanover, fresh off his world record performance as the fastest performer for a five-eighths-mile distance over a five-eighths-mile oval.
The 8-year-old altered son of Cam’s Card Shark, driven by Wally Hennessey, took charge from his first long stride and continued unscathed to the wire with a 1:54.1 mile — out in :57.3 and home in :56.3. A nine-time winner in 2017, Winyard Hanover won for the 26th time career-wise, sending his bankroll swelling to $221,875. Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner, Winyard Hanover was 9-5 at the bell and returned $5.60 to win.
With handle for the Sunday night extravaganza a season high, the momentum is expected to continue on Monday night with a trio of carryovers sprinkled throughout the program. The Pick-5, which starts with the first race, has a carryover of $6,254, resulting in a $20,000 guarantee for that pool on Monday night. The Pick-6 has a carryover of $1,098 while the Super High-5 carryover has ballooned to $66,515. Monday night post time is set at 7:20 p.m.