Pompano Beach, FL – With Rick Plano’s Toy’s For You asked to step aside for a week, Plano thought, “well, maybe you can keep him down for a week, but you can’t keep the whole stable down for a week.”

Rick Plano guided “second stringer” Sooo Handsome to victory in Pompano Park’s featured trot Monday night. Jessica Hallett Photo.

Plano proved the point on Monday night (Feb. 15) in the $14,200 Open Handicap Trot by sending his two other big guns–Sooo Handsome and Flagman–winding up with a win and a third.

Very adequately subbing for Toy’s For You, Sooo Handsome used a ferocious late rally from last to win that feature for trotters in 1:55.1, exceptional considering the cool and windy conditions.

The 9-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall roared home in :28.2 to pin a one-length defeat on Max (David Miller) with another member of the Plano Stable, Flagman (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) third, just another length away. Celebrity Pegasus, closing with alacrity, finished fourth after being last at the stretch call while Star Track Hanover picked up the nickel in a talented sextet.

At the outset, Max was alert off the wings with Four Wheelin (both at 3-2 odds) also on the prowl with the latter reaching the top at the opening marker in :27.2.

The leader was able to get a second quarter breather breaking the half mile beam in :57.1 before things began to accelerate on the backside with Max out to challenge at the third station in 1:26.

Four Wheelin and Max were at war until Max took charge, only to succumb to the surging Sooo Handsome a sixteenth out.

In a post-race interview, Plano said, “There’s an old saying, ‘you can’t keep a good man down and that might also apply to a good stable. Sooo Handsome might be a shade below Toy’s but, since I have changed strategy with him racing off the pace, he’s done right well for himself.”

Trained by Rick for owner-wife Maryann, Sooo Handsome picked up his third win of the year and 49th lifetime, vaulting his 2022 earnings to $22,242 and $422,130 career-wise. Off at fourth choice at 9-2, Sooo Handsome paid $11.40 to win off of a 3-1 morning line.

The companion $14,200 Open Handicap Pace went to Rebellious, confidently handled by Wally Hennessey. The 8-year-old altered son of Mach Three, assigned the six post in the septet, was dismissed at odds of 7-1 off of a 7-2 morning line, and, once on top, was never seriously threatened in scoring a 1:51.1 decision over Maxdaddy Blue Chip (Plano) with Cinnamon Beach (Patrizio Ancora) third. Favored Seeing Eye Single finished fourth while Actor Hanover earned the final award.

After Maxdaddy Blue Chip brushed an opening quarter in a brisk :26.3 before Rebellious took over and carded subsequent panels of :55 and 1:22.4 before a :28.2 finale easily sealed the deal.

After the race, Hennessey said, “All I did tonight was steer. This horse is just amazing when it comes to his stamina and credit goes to Mike (trainer Deters) for getting him ready to perform at the top week after week. All I did was give him a chance to win and he did the rest.”

The win was number 57 lifetime for Rebellious, sending his career bounty to $446,442 for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns with Joel Warner.

Rebelious paid $17.20 to win.

Racing continues on Tuesday (Feb. 15) with a 13-race extravaganza including two popular Pick-4 offerings with $15,000 guaranteed pools and industry low 12 percent takeout.

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