by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Southwind Amazon, off at 9-5 and getting picture perfect handling from Mike Micallef, edged by the favored Panocchio, off at 1-2 and driven by Wally Hennessey, to pull off a minor upset in Pompano Park’s $10,000 featured Open Handicap Pace on Sunday (April 24). The 6-year-old gelded son of Camluck hit the wire in 1:51.2 to score his sixth win of the year in 13 starts.

Skip Smith photo

Southwind Amazon took top honors in Pompano Park’s Open Pace on Sunday night.

Steelhead Hanover, with Joe Pavia Jr. in the bike, finished third while Heart Felt was fourth. Duc Dorleans finished fifth in the sextet after making a mild backside bid.

Trained by Paul Holzman for owner Ameer Najor, Southwind Amazon left with his usual alacrity and took the early lead, only yielding to Panocchio once the opening station was completed in :27. Panocchio then proceeded to post fractions of :55.1 and 1:24.2 before Southwind Amazon left his cozy pocket turning for home and began gnawing away at the leader, finally pushing his nose in front in the final 16th of the mile and then on to score by three-parts of a length.

In a post-race interview, driver Mike Micallef said, “When the horse next to me (Mister Virgin) made that break before the start, it might have made it a little easier for us because it took out a horse that does have very fast early foot. So, I just left out of there and tried to take a little sting out of Panocchio early. No doubt about it, Panocchio is an unbelievable horse but they all aren’t machines week after week. I’m not saying I was confident sitting second but it was better to be there than four or five lengths out of it. When we tilted out turning for home, both of us were motoring pretty good, so the cover trip proved to be the difference, on this night, anyhow.”

The win for Southwind Amazon — his 23rd lifetime — sent his career bankroll to $254,812. As second choice, Southwind Amazon returned a $5.60 dividend for the $2.00 investment.

The $9,500 Open 2 Handicap Pace went to Abreathofreshart for Wally Hennessey in 1:52 over Sir Globalop Z Tam, driven by Andy Santeramo, and Regalanthropist, with Matt Romano in the bike. Thebestofjoel finished fourth in the field of six while the 3-5 favorite, Energy Shakes, failed to fire this night and could only pick up the nickel.

Abreathofreshart, a 5-year-old altered son of Artistic Fella, won for the third time this semester to send his seasonal bankroll to $17,679 and $62,197 career-wise. Marc Aubin trains the winner for owners Dan and Jacalyn Boddie.

The Florida Amateur Driving Club paid homage to the late Bob Arnold, an FADC member who lost his battle with kidney disease several years ago, with a pair of Sunday night events with Engagedatlexington and Yakekty Hanover reporting home winners in their respective events, giving trainer Mario Dessureault a pair of training wins and driver Jamie Marra his first ever driving double.

Engagedatlexington, trained by Dessureault for Jamie Marra Racing, scored in 1:58. — a seasonal best — pinning a defeat measuring 1-1/4 lengths on Columbia Lion, driven by Tommy Santeramo, with PC’s Wildcard, teamed up with Joe Pennachio, third. The minors went to Chaplin Hall and Witty’s Winner.

This 5-year-old son of Conway Hall won for the second time this year in 13 starts. Off as the third choice at 4-1, Engagedatlexington paid $10.60 to win.

Yakekty Hanover, owned by Dessureault himself, was put into play from his six post early by Marra and led at every pole, clocking panels of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:28.4 before strolling home unscathed by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:59.3. Zeitgeist, driven by Tom Eichas, finished a fast closing second while M C Feliz, handled by Teddy Bowman, finished third. C R Amigo and Guilford were next in the field of nine.

For Yakekty Hanover, it was his initial victory of the year in five starts with the win, his seventh lifetime, sending his career bounty to $47,548. Fourth choice among the punters, Yakekty Hanover paid $15.20 to win.

After that event, several drivers and trainers gathered in the winner’s circle with members of the Arnold family to pay tribute while the Florida Amateur Driving Club made a sizeable contribution on Arnold’s behalf to the Lester & Eunice Vance Scholarship Fund, sponsored by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. The FADC charitable donations are now approaching $170,000.

Racing continues on Monday night — the final Monday of the season — with post time at 7:30 p.m.