by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Prairie Fortune and Skyway Priss took top honors in their respective $11,000 trotting features at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (Jan. 3).

With the west wind howling as temperatures dipped to their lowest point of the season — mid-50s — Skyway Priss began the mid-week festivities as she cooled off her rivals with a strong late surge to score for John MacDonald in 1:56.3.

Skip Smith photo

Skyway Priss stepped up to the top class of trotting mares and promptly cooled her foes with a win in 1:56.3 on Wednesday.

The 10-year-old daughter of Cincinnati Kid used a late surge to score by three-parts of a length over Vicki All, with J. D. Yoder driving. JS Foxy Lady was third for Ricky Macomber Jr. while Modern Mercury finished fourth after a serious challenge turning for home. Bad Angel picked up the nickel in the sextet of classy females.

At the outset, Skyway Priss, leaving from the outside post six, was sent winging and took command from She’s All In right at the opening station in :27.4. Shortly after, the 6-5 favorite Vicki All surged to the front and took the field halfway through the mile in :57.3. On the backside, JS Foxy Lady was in full throttle and she surged to the lead past the third station in 1:26.4 as Modern Mercury was also charging leaving Skyway Priss locked up in fourth and in search of room to roam. In the lane, she found that seam and surged on through to seal the victory.

Said MacDonald after the race, “She (Skyway Priss) is a very handy mare and she’ll do anything you ask. We were kind of looped on the backside but we got lucky to find a bit of room in the stretch and she responded. It sure was cold out there with the wind howling so it was a very game performance for her.

“Going in, trainer John Mungillo said, ‘Just do the best you can with her. She’s up to the top class, so I don’t know if she can win, but, whatever happens, it’s better than being in Buffalo where it’s zero and there is a foot of snow that has to be shoveled!”

Shyway Priss, who won 10 times last year, kicked off her 2018 campaign by going over the $400,000 plateau in career bounty. With 45 lifetime wins, Skyway Priss now boasts earnings of $404,446 to go along with her 1:55.3 mark at Dover Downs set six years ago. As the 2-1 second choice, Skyway Priss paid $6.40 to win.

Prairie Fortune, the machine-like 6-year-old gelded son of Arapa Victory, conquered his five rivals and the blustery winds to score for Jim Meittinis in 1:56 after using a backside blitz to take command to put the issue to rest around the final bend. Sooo Handsome finished second for Rick Plano, two lengths away, while Uncle Hanover rallied for third under the direction of Dave Ingraham. Rockn Stien, prominent early, was fourth while Bobs Hope picked up the minor award in the field of six.

Prairie Fortune, leaving from post five, was his usual relaxed self leaving but did get away fifth as Security Guard made a miscue due to some equipment issues and trailed the field as Sooo Handsome took charge and led the field through an opening quarter in :28.3. Inheriting an even closer spot three-eighths into the mile, Prairie Fortune was out and driving into turn two as Sooo Handsome reached the half in :58.1.

During the official :27.2 backside quarter, Prairie Fortune surged to the fore and opened up a daylight lead past the third station in 1:25.3. From there, it was a cakewalk home for the two length score leaving driver Meittinis to remark, “He (Prairie Fortune) was really on his game tonight and, when I chirped at him just once, he was off to the races. Not much else I can say. He was just awesome despite the sharp wind and cold.”

Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, Prairie Fortune won for the 38th time in his career measuring 86 starts with his lifetime earnings blossoming to $293,540. Off at 4-5 on the toteboard, Prairie Fortune returned $3.60 to win.

Racing continues on Saturday night with a trio of carryovers highlighting the card. The track’s Pentafecta fourth has a carryover of $3,743, the Pick-6 features a carryover of $4,295 and the Super Hi-5 finale has exploded to $55,137. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.