Dan Clements had one of the longshots, Red Star Paylater, into full stride quickly to take command at the quarter in 26 seconds before the outside challenge appeared from Rick's Sign and driver Fern Paquet Jr. well before the half flashed up in 55 seconds. Red Star Paylater put away the challenge of Rick's Sign after a backstretch duel to the final turn in 1:22.4, but lurking in the pocket all the way was 28-1 bomb Kommander Hawk. In the stretch, Anthony Napolitano brought out Kommander Hawk to stop the clock in 1:51.1. Daley Deposit Only in rein to Dan Daley closed next best for the place position and Red Star Paylater persisited for third. Favored Pacinello had a poor start and finished eighth and last, and another top choice, Brave Call, did not make it into the top five finish order in spite of a second over trip.
Kommader Hawk was offered in mid-December for a claiming price of $12,500 and has made it all the way to the top of the heap at Pompano under the care of trainer John McNeil III. The 6 year old Pro Bono Best-Spinner's Hawk gelding is owner by Ellen McNeil of Vernon Centre, NY. Kommander Hawk lead off the Pick-4 wager at 28-1 and claiming pacer Change Your Luck concluded the Pick-4 at 8-1, resulting in a Pick-4 carryover of $3,663 in addition to the weeknight guaranteed pool of $5,000 when racing resumes on Monday evening, January 23.
Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall of Fame inductee John Berry, and replays are in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com along with the racing schedule through July of 2012.
