Hennessey did move up his career win total to 7,999 with claiming trotter Like A Gator and a tally in the final race on the card with $7,500 Cody's Honor. Hennessey had several other near misses on the program as he chased the milestone. He lead late into the stretch with claiming pacer Foreign Soil only to be caught in the closing strides by a longshot rival, L M Dash For Cash. In the $5,000 claiming pace, he brought four year old mare Youtorturemefern up to the leader in the stretch but had to settle for a close third place finish. Hennessey was even closer with claiming trotter VT's Gold Key, who lost an agonizing photo finish decision to a hard closing Prince Rocco driven by David Ingraham.
When racing resumes at Pompano on Saturday, February 18, Hennessey has six
drives scheduled and a single win needed to become the 21st driver to
reach 8,000 lifetime wins in the sport's recorded history.
