You're Next wins 13th

You’re Next set a Pompano Park track record Wednesday night as he trotted to his 13th consecutive victory to remain undefeated in his career, despite racing over a sloppy, rain-soaked track.

Starting from post four in the $4,700 third-race trot, You’re Next wasted little time finding his way to the front as driver Wally Hennessey moved aggressively on the first turn to wrestle the lead from Strike Till Dawn (Daryl Bier), who had taken the field through an opening quarter in :29.1. Trotting comfortably on the lead, You’re Next eased passed the half-mile marker in :59.3, and was confidently guided through a three-quarters split in 1:29.4.

Angelo Kosmos (Marc Aubin), who tracked the first-over move of Fimo (Matthew Kakaley) around the final turn, was angled three-wide to make a late charge at the leader, but came up 1 1/4 lengths short at the wire and had to settle for second. Strike Till Dawn finished third.

You’re Next stopped the clock in 2:00 to secure the victory while moving his lifetime earnings over the $25,000 plateau.

“When you’re going for something like this, you can’t afford any mistakes,” said Wally Hennessey after the victory. “The horse is not as sharp as he was before he got laid up, but he’s a horse that wants to win, and that is why he’s been able to do this.”

Trained by Fred Cohen and owned by Deborah Sassen of Coral Springs, You’re Next had been away from the races since March 2006 when he re-injured a pulled suspensory in his right hind leg. At the time, the gelding had just taken his lifetime mark in 1:55.2 when winning his 12th straight.

“After not competing for nearly ten months I was happy he (You’re Next) remembered how to race,” said Cohen jokingly. “It was sensational to see him trot away in the stretch and set the record.”

“Fred did a phenomenal job and deserves all the credit in getting You’re Next back to the races.” Sassen said. “I had no doubt tonight that he would win. I am a very positive person and knew he could do it.”

Just in case, Sassen also brought her special good luck charm for You’re Next. Her 90-year-old mother, Ruth Dunay, has never missed one of You’re Next’s 13 wins.

“I love that horse whether he wins or loses,” Dunay said. “As he raced down the stretch I was yelling ‘He did it…He did it’ and it was so exciting.”

With the victory, the 5-year-old gelded son of Yankee Paco eclipsed the previous consecutive win mark that he held in conjunction with the pacer Lady Netty N, who triumphed in 12 straight races in 1999.

In the evening’s fifth race trot, Windy Hill sprung a major upset at 54-1 when prevailing by a nose over Mr Bada Bing, the 4-5 post time favorite, and returning $110.20 for the win. Driven by Robert Naginewicz for owner-trainer Lisa Holloway, Windy Hill trotted the mile in 2:01.1 and keyed a trifecta that returned $1,700.80. (Pompano Park)

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