Hennessey adds to Hall of Fame resume

Making her first pari-mutuel start since a third-place performance at Pompano Park on May 11, and driven by the to-be-inducted-Sunday-into-the-Hall of Fame Wally Hennessey, Velvet Eileen returned from the sidelines to capture Friday’s featured $18,000 Fillies and Mares winners over handicap pace at the South Florida oval in 1:53.3.

Starting from post six, Velvet Eileen settled in seventh place through the early stages of the Friday feature as race favorite Tintabella N (Daryl Bier) muscled her way to the front through an opening quarter-mile that was clocked in :27.1.

As the field moved by the grandstand for the first time, Hennessey tipped Velvet Eileen to the outside to flush out cover from My Metallica (Tom Sells) , who began an extended first-over journey as Tintabella N hit the half-mile pole in :57.2. My Metallica and Velvet Eileen continued to inch closer to Tintabella N down the backstretch as the daughter of Tinted Cloud reached the three-quarters marker in 1:25.1, and  by the top of the stretch the mare’s lead was whittled down to a quarter-length.

My Metallica wrestled the top spot away from Tintabella N midway down the lane, but the daughter of Party at Artsplace had no answer for Velvet Eileen, who closed determinedly down the center of the track to thrust her nose in front in the shadow of the wire.

Velvet Eileen returned $10.60, $5.20, $2.20 for the victory. My Metallica brought in $4.40, $2.80 for second, while Tintabella N paid $2.20 for third.

Owned by Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile, and Pomtambo Stable, and trained by Michile Lorenzo, Velvet Eileen has prevailed in three of five starts this year, including a career-best victory in 1:52 on April 13. With her triumph in the Friday feature, the daughter of Mark Johnathan now has seasonal earnings over $20,000 with a lifetime bankroll of $128,264.

Following the evening’s third event, Hennessey was joined in the Pompano Park winner’s circle by family, friends, fellow horsemen, and track representatives to commemorate his upcoming induction to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., on Sunday.

Through the completion of Friday’s program, Hennessey has visited the winner’s circle 6,847 times during his driving career, which dates back to 1977, and has amassed over $46 million in purse money won.

Alice Springs ($3.20) prevailed in the $4,500 opening leg of the Seminole Pacing Series for 2-year-old Florida-bred fillies, scoring a front-end victory in 1:59.3 for owner/driver Tom Lehman and trainer James Brown.

The daughter of first-crop sire N Aboriginal cut out fractions of :30.1, 1:02.1, and 1:31.1 before covering the final quarter mile in :28.2  to secure a three-length victory. (Pompano Park) 

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