Pompano Beach, FL --- Northern Companion, off at 26-1, scored the upset victory in Pompano Park's $15,400 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (March 28), covering the mile in 1:51.2.
The 7-year-old son of Cambest, trained by Howard Klohr and driven by Dave Ingraham for owner Dorothy Zarza, stormed home from sixth at the top of the stretch to score a win measuring three-quarters of a length over P L Hellcat with Dan Clements handling the lines.
Panocchio, making his initial start of the 2015 campaign, finished third for Bruce Ranger, but was disqualified for a pylon violation and set back to eighth, allowing Duc Dorleans to move up one notch to third after cutting fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:23. Cruizin K C was also moved up a spot to fourth after putting heavy pressure on the leader around the final turn. Do Wop Hanover, also making his 2015 debut, was also moved up a spot to catch the nickel. The field was cut to nine with the scratch of Remissionofsins.
In a post race interview, driver Dave Ingraham lamented, "My horse (Northern Companion) can really turn it on late, especially off of some hot fractions. Actually, when Remissionofsins was scratched, I thought that might hurt us a little bit because that one can really sizzle early and possibly set things up for closers. But it all worked out for us and I am thrilled for Howie (trainer Klohr) and, especially, Dotty (owner Zarza).
For Northern Companion, it was his third success of the year in seven starts, sending his 2015 bounty to $18,088. He's banked $257,185 lifetime. His win payoff of $54.80 was by far the largest in his 40 lifetime victories.
In Pompano's $10,000 Open 2 Pace, Steelhead Hanover, again confidently handled by trainer Joe Pavia Jr., scored another handy victory in carbon copy fashion from last week's open length win.
The 6-year-old son of Bettor's Delight, scoring last week in 1:49.2 by 4-3/4 lengths, hit the wire 5-1/4 lengths to the good in 1:50 on this night, after carving out front end panels of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:22.1 along the way. Cadillac Phil and Mike Micallef teamed up for place honors while Cartoonist, in the garden spot all the way with Wally Hennessey, finished third, 5-1/2 lengths away. Twin B Speedo finished fourth while Prairie Jaguar picked up the nickel.
In a post race interview, driver Joe Pavia Jr. said, "It was, pretty much, a carbon copy of last week's win. He's very sharp now and, again, when we hit the backside, he just went into another gear. I really didn't realize that he was going that much during that third quarter -- :26.3 -- but he did the same thing last week, too. He's just doing it so comfortably. He's amazing!"
Owned by the consortium of Steven Held, AGC Stables, Dijo Racing and Joseph Barbera, Steelhead Hanover is now two for three this year and 18 for 70 lifetime with $494,270 in career bounty to go along with a mark of 1:48.3 last year at Pocono Downs. As the overwhelming 1-5 choice on the tote board, Steelhead Hanover paid $2.40 to win.
In other news, Pompano Park has a trio of exotic carryovers heading into the Sunday night program, two caused by the same pacer.
When Gold Star Spike, off at 63-1, came from last halfway through the mile to score a nose decision for Aaron Byron in a $7,500 conditioned pace, Pompano's Pick-5 went untouched, creating a $7,500 guaranteed pool for the Sunday night program.
Gold Star Spike also was the catalyst for the Sunday night Pick-4 carryover, which now has been guaranteed at $15,000.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 carryover also spiked on Saturday night when there were two winning tickets on the 20 cent combination of 3-5-9-1-8, each worth well over $1,626.66. The carryover now is close to $73,000 going into the Sunday night program. Post time is 7:30 p.m.