Pompano earnings title resides at 'Wally's World'

It was a contest that went down to the final 12 races of the 2009-2010 meet at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and Wally Hennessey finally secured the drivers' cash earnings title Friday night. The 53-year-old reinsman will edge Bruce Ranger at just under $1.2 million in driving purses for the 46th season at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.

 

Helping Hennessey's dollar total pile up the most on the Friday card was pacing mare Lucy Lucy, who unleashed a dominant and wrapped-up win in 1:52.3 in the $12,500 Mares Open-2 Handicap Pace. Lucy Lucy, a 6-year-old Tough Sir-Small Change mare is trained by Kim Sears for owner Jay Sears of Osteen, Fla., and her 30th career win included a hard held final quarter in :27.4 with Eve (Tom Sells) and Stylish Soiree N (Walter Ross Jr.) following next under the wire.

 

Although he departed several weeks ago for summer season competition at Tioga Downs, Bruce Ranger still secured the drivers' dash title for the meet. Ranger, the winningest driver in Pompano history, reined in 227 winners and his 1,030 assignments was also the most for any driver in this South Florida campaign.

 

Dan Hennessey has wrapped up both the cash and dash titles on the training side for the 2009-2010 season at The Isle. Going into the final program of the meet on Saturday evening, May 22, Hennessey has sent out 58 winners for more than $380,000 in purses. That's a 14-win and $25,000 lead over runner-up Kim Sears with 11 races to go in the campaign.
 
Trotting gelding Banker Ablaze reached the 60-win career milestone on the Friday program at The Isle with a front-end win in 2:00 over six rivals in a $4,000 purse event for $4,000 claiming trotters.

 

The Wall Street Banker-Blazing Gill veteran is now trained by Don Glowacki for owner and driver Jamie Marra of Delray Beach, Fla. Bred by Oldfield Farm of Michigan, Banker Ablaze took his life's mark of 1:57.1 at Pompano in 2002 and his career bankroll now stands at $291,500. (Pompano Park)