Pass me the mustard please, at Pompano

Jim McDonald’s Dontpassdamustard captured the seventh edition of the Midnight Mile at Pompano Park, bridging 2007 and 2008 with a winning mile clocked in 1:55.3 to prevail in the $4,500 claiming pace on New Year's Eve.

Starting from post six at precisely 11:59 p.m. (EST) with Brad Hanners at the controls, Dontpassdamustard was content to spend the final moments of his 5-year-old season in sixth place as Bloom’s Beautylo (John Kakaley) showed the way through an opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Bloom’s Beautylo slowed things down with a second panel that went in :29.4 to reach the half-mile marker in :57.1 , prompting Can’tscootbybelle (Bruce Ranger) to move off the pylons to attack first over. This provided cover for Dontpassdamustard, who was also angled outside to attack, and that duo began grinding away at the leader as the calendar turned.

Bloom’s Beautylo got the first call of the New Year when hitting the three-quarters marker in 1:26, but was soon tested by Can’tscootbybelle and Dontpassdamustard, as both pacers moved three wide on the final turn to challenge the leader.

Bloom’s Beautylo entered the stretch with a one-length advantage, but that margin quickly vanished as Dontpassdamustard found his best strides down the lane, charging his way to the front before drawing clear in the final yards to welcome in 2008 with a two-length triumph.

Entering the Pompano Park winner’s circle in his first moments as a 6 year old, Dontpassdamustard brought down the curtain on his 2007 season with one victory from 22 starts, while closing out the year with a lifetime bankroll in excess of $76,000.

Gale Warning returned to his winning ways earlier in the program when capturing the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:55 for driver Wally Hennessey, trainer Michile Lorenzo, and owners Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile, and Pomtambo Stable.

After being parked in second place through an opening quarter mile that went in :28.4, Gale Warning eventually cleared the front, posting middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.3 before coming home in :28.2 to score a 1 ½-length victory.

A son of Strong Gale, out of the Robespierre mare Liz’s Promise, Gale Warning enjoyed a successful 2007 campaign with 12 wins from 38 starts and seasonal earnings of $123,852. (Pompano Park)

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