In the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Pace on Saturday evening, March 17 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, Aracache Hanover was sent off as the 2-5 public choice and favored for the second straight week. Just like in his March 10 return to the racing wars for his 5 year old campaign when he was upset by the Hennessey driven Forty Carrots, Aracache Hanover started from the outside post in the field of eight horses and held the lead into the stretch after fractions of 26.2, 54.4, and 1:22.3 with Bruce Ranger in the bike. In the dramatic final eighth, Appley Ever After with Joe Pavia Jr. in tow pulled out of the pocket to surge to the front only to be gunned down on the line by Talk To Tony and Wally Hennessey in a 23-1 upset. Aracache Hanover persisted for third.
The 1:51.1 result was a life's mark for Talk To Tony, an Artiscape-Muggins Hanover 5 year old ridgling. Kim Sears trains the 11 time career winner for John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, FL and Jay Sears of Osteen, FL.
In the Saturday night card's Open II Handicap Pace the field was comprised of three Open mares from the inside posts against six male rivals for an $8,500 purse. B N Bad, trained and driven by Joe Pavia Jr., took advantage of class relief from the top group for a wide open lengths win in 1:51.3. Pavia shares ownership of the Soho-Our Sleep N Beauty 5 year old gelding with Steven Held, Peter Shank, Paul Molter and AGC Stables. Yankees In Six partnered by Rick Plano was also dropping from the top class and followed in for second followed by the mare Best Around, driven on this occasion by Fern Paquet Jr.
