by Debbie Schaut, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Trainer Ron Gurfein captured both $7,000 divisions of the first leg of the Aime Choquette Trot at the Isle Pompano Park on Wednesday night (April 15) with Wally Hennessey at the lines for both victories.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Spiceberry Hanover and Wally Hennessey were victorious in the Aime Choquette Trot by 1-1/2 lengths.

Hennessey piloted Spiceberry Hanover ($5.00) to a new lifetime mark of 1:58.2 in the first division with fractions of :28.1, :59.3, and 1:28.3. The undefeated Whosgoinwhosstayin and Mickey McNichol were looking for their 13th straight win but had to settle for second place with Trot Monster (David Ingraham) finishing third.

It is the second win in two starts on the season for the 3-year-old Cantab Hall filly owned by Jerry Silva and Mathias Meinzinger.

In the second division it was a first pari-mutuel victory for the 3-year-old Cantab Hall colt Cantabmyway ($4.20), finishing the mile in 1:58.4, 1-1/2 lengths over Super Lotto (Bruce Ranger) in second and That’s Hall Folks (Kevin Wallis), finishing third.

Cantabmyway is owned by Jerry Silva, Brittany Farms and the M Biasuzzi Stable.

In the $7,000 first leg, first division of The Springboard Pace, Bruce Ranger steered Bettor Thantherest to victory in 1:53.4.

The Boss (Kevin Wallis) paced fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25, but Bettor Thantherest showed who the best was when he fanned three-wide down the stretch to win by 4-1/2 lengths over The Boss and Joey Hackett (Fern Paquet, Jr.).

Bettor Thantherest is a 4-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding who picked up his fourth win of the season in 12 starts. Bruce Ranger trains Bettor Thantherest for the Fred Monteleone Stable LLC and Salvatore L. Promuto.

In the second division it was the first seasonal win for the 4-year-old Allamerican Native gelding Kevlar Hanover ($6.00) for trainer Peter Blood, who co-owns with Rick Berks.

Howie’s Heart and Kevin Wallis were quickest off the gate to set a quarter fraction of :28.4 but Kevlar Hanover and Andy Santeramo quickly took charge and paced fractions of :58 at the half and 1:26 to the three-quarters to finish the mile in 1:56.2 to win by a half-length over Mr Frank Ster (Bruce Ranger). Howies Heart and Hona Suga (Gaston Lareau) finished in a dead heat for third.

The Spring Fling first leg, first division for trotters went for a purse of $6,500 with trainer-owner Irwin Lubar capturing a third consecutive win from his 7-year-old Conway Hall gelding Streetwise Hall with Anthony Napolitano in the bike. Proud Chipper and Bruce Ranger finished second and Heikki (Richard Simard) finished third.

Streetwise Hall has five wins for the season in nine starts. He was also victorious in last week’s first division Spring Fling Preview.

In the second division Bruce Ranger and Doc’s All Class ($5.40) won in a career best time of 1:57.1 for trainer Mike Deters, who co-owns the 7-year-old Robespierre gelding with Kevin Burch and the Fishman Stables LLC. Finishing second was Magicstar Prescott (Wally Hennessey) and Curly Whirly (Andy Santeramo) finished third.

Wally Hennessey captured four wins on the night’s race card and Bruce Ranger had a driving triple.