>

Private Purchases Prosper At Pompano

It's quickly become a level of productivity to rival a highly efficient modern assembly line. When horses prepped by Rod Allen at Ocala, FL are sold privately to Arthur Mergenhagen of Williston, FL and moved into the care of trainer Dan Hennessey they quickly become big time winners at Pompano Park.

The latest example surfaced on the Monday evening program as three-year-old trotter Holy Halibut stepped to a 1:58.2 life's mark by a big margin. The private purchase by Arthur Mergenhagen was made after last week's runner-up finish in what turned out to be his final start for his breeder and developer Rod Allen. The Holy Guacamolie-CR Gone Fishin gelding stepped away from the maiden field wrapped up by wide open lengths with Wally Hennessey in the bike. Sea Drill held second and Youknowwhatilike followed next under the wire.

That impressive outing for Holy Halibut was just one race before the same connections returned after a 1:54 off-the-pace romp by Glam Cam in the $14,000 purse Open Mares Pace Handicap. Glam Cam, a five-year-old daughter of Camotion-CR Charisma was lightly raced until a private sale by Rod Allen to Arthur Mergenhagen late in March. Since then, Glam Cam has amassed eight wins and a single runner-up finish from the Dan Hennessey barn and driver Wally Hennessey. It was the second straight week that Glam Cam won in the top class for pacing in South Florida as she defeated Major Trap and Elm Grove Ella.

The Florida-bred starters of owner-trainer Tom Audley have returned to the track in sharp form for 2011. On the Monday evening program, Gold Star Glitter earned a life's mark of 1:54 in a $6,100 conditioned test against older mares. The three-year-old daughter of Squaws Fella-Squisita was the Florida Breeders two-year-old filly pace champion last December. Audley is a resident of Bell, FL and his stable has compiled a record of 8-6-3 from his first 30 starters in South Florida thus far in 2011.