American Courage, who started his career seven-for-seven before an out-of-character seventh-place finish in the New York Sire Stakes final last September, began his three-year-old campaign in style with an authoritative 1:52 victory in one of four W.N. Reynolds Memorial divisions for sophomore pacers of both sexes that took place on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Matt Kakaley in the $23,750 event, American Courage gunned out from post six and was able to clear 1-5 choice Ill Drink To That (Dexter Dunn) before the :27.1 opening quarter. American Courage remained the boss through the :56.1 half and the 1:24.3 three-quarters, then paced home in :27.2 to defeat Ill Drink To That by a length and three-quarters. Shakespeare (Todd McCarthy) followed along in third throughout and ended up finishing in that spot.
It wasn t the Fourth of July but there were plenty of pari-mutuel fireworks at Pompano Park as the famed South Florida closed out its season with record breaking handle while several other pools were at or near record levels on Sunday night (May 2).
Total handle exceeded $1.7 million, giving Pompano its record 21st million-dollar-plus program for the season. In it s history dating back to 1964, the track had a total of six such nights.
The Send-It-In Army members were rewarded with some healthy rewards as the 50-cent Pick 5, with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, paid $708.10 with two odds-on favourites, two 4-1 shots and a single 8-1 winner comprising the mix.
Prairie Panther scored a repeat victory in Pompano Park s $11.500 Open Handicap Pace on Monday night (March 8), conquering six worthy opponents and near gale force wind gusts in the process.
The versatile seven-year-old gelded son of Royel Millennium changed strategy this night after a courageous win last week on the engine, coming from well off the pace to score in 1:51.2 under the direction of Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey.
Seeing Eye Single (David Miller) closed fastest of all to be second, three-quarters of length away, while Skip To My Lou, assigned the outside post in this field, rallied from last halfway through the mile to finish third.