Lifetime efforts capture trio of late-closer finales

Whosgoinwhosstayin, Bettor Thantherest and Doc’s All Class each captured their respective $20,000 late-closer series finals Wednesday at the Isle Pompano Park. Both Whosgoinwhosstayin and Doc’s All Class each scored lifetime marks while Bettor Thantherest equaled his lifetime record.

The action started off in the fifth race $20,000 final of the Aime Choquette Trotting Series with Whosgoinwhosstayin, the lone 3 year old, competing against older horses.

Driver Mickey McNichol sent Whosgoinwhosstayin right to the lead with Super Lotto (Bruce Ranger) grabbing the two-hole spot. Whosgoinwhostayin cut fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:28.3, holding the field at bay and then kicked in a :28.4 last quarter mile to win in a lifetime best 1:57.2. Super Lotto was second with GW Gracie (Wally Hennessey) third.

It was the second straight win and 14th victory in 15 lifetime starts for Whosgoinwhosstayin, who last year was a Florida Sire Stakes champion, undefeated in 12 starts at age two. The gelded son of Basil was bred and is co-owned by Sophia and Chris Valkanoff with trainer Linda Kakaley of Pompano Beach.

“He is a much better horse this year.” McNichol said. “Tonight he had plenty left over at the finish.”

The race is named after Aime Choquette, a longtime veteran horseman at Pompano Park, who was Hall of Famer Delvin Miller’s second trainer for 50 years.

Choquette, 94, comes to the races each night and to the backstretch every day.

“I am so honored to have a series named after me.” Choquette said. “And what a great final it was tonight to see this good three-year-old beat older horses.”

In the sixth race $20,000 final of the Springboard Pacing Series it was a clean sweep for Bettor Thantherest as the 4-year-old gelding by Bettor’s Delight once again came from off the pace and scored a 5 3/4-length romp in 1:53.4.

It was The Boss (Kevin Wallis) who left like a rocket from post nine to take early command from Ben Magic (David Ingraham) at the opening quarter mile in :28. The Boss led the field to the half mile in :57.3 and was then challenge first-over by Kevlar Hanover (Andy Santeramo) in the backstretch. Following Kevlar Hanover second-over was Bettor Thantherest and trainer-driver Bruce Ranger.

Kevlar Hanover was able to take the lead by the three-quarters in 1:25.3 and looked to hold off Bettor Thantherest as they started down the stretch but Kevlar Hanover went off-stride and Bettor Thantherest just pulled away from the field. Ben Magic was second with The Boss third.

Owned by the Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach and Salvatore Promuto of New Rochelle, N.Y., it was the third straight win and fifth victory of the year for Bettor Thantherest, who in his last four wins has done so in the exact lifetime mark time of 1:53.4.

“It scary how he is so super consistent in time,” said Ranger of Bettor Thantherest. “He was hurt at age two, sore at age three, but we were patient with him and it is now paying off.”

Ranger came right back to the winner’s circle in the seventh race $20,000 final of the Spring Fling Pacing Series for $8,000 claimers with Doc’s All Class, leading from start to finish by a half length in a lifetime-best 1:56.3. Streetwise Hall, who had come first-over held game for second place for driver Anthony Napolitano with Magicstar Prescott (Wally Hennessey) third. Doc’s All Class cut fractions of :28, :57 and 1:27.1.

It was a clean sweep in the series for Doc’s All Class in posting his third straight win. The 7-year-old gelding by Robespierre is trained by Mike Deters and is co-owned by Deters of Coconut Creek with K.W. Burch of Springboro, Ohio and the Fishman Stables of Tavernier. For Doc’s All Class it was his eighth win in thirteen starts and he also has four second place finishes.

“He (Doc’s All Class) sort of takes you around the track.” Ranger said referring to the fact that the horse usually tries to lead from start to finish each time he races. “Tonight he was really strong on the front end.” Ranger added. (Pompano)

« Back