All Charged Up ekes out victory

Pompano Beach, FL…December 19, 2017…All Charged Up, driven by John MacDonald, eked out a narrow decision in Pompano Park's enhanced $11,000 Open Handicap Pace for harness racing fillies and mares on Monday night (December 18), stopping the timer in 1:52.4.

The courageous six year-old daughter of Ponder pinned the defeat on the highly vaunted Rockin Serene, handled by Peter Wrenn, with Embassy Seelster, with Fern Paquet, Jr., handling her lines, third.

Galarina and Sue's Night Out completed the roster in the classy quintet of ladies.

All Charged Up, off as the 6 to 1 second choice, left the Silver Bullet starting gate with alacrity from her post four, as did Rock Serena, leaving from her outside post five and off as the official 1 to 20 favorite.

Rockin Serena blazed through an opening panel of :26.4 to take command and led through subsequent fractions of :56 and 1:24.4 with All Charged Up patient while in the garden spot.

Turning for home, All Charged Up found a narrow seam to leave the coziness of her pocket and began gnawing away, taking a short lead once they straightened away.

These two fought tooth and nail to the wire with Rockin Serena gnawing right back in the final stages–her late rally falling a head short at the line.

After the race, driver John MacDonald related, "The difference tonight was the trip she got. Peter's (Wrenn) filly did the heavy lifting early with that fast opening quarter but, I'll tell ya, "she was coming back to us at the end of the mile. She might have gotten us if the track was a bit longer!

"My mare raced as good as she can, especially being off a couple of weeks. But, she's gritty…she's tough!"

Owned by J P Stables, All Charged Up won for the eighth time in only 17 starts this year, sending her 2017 bounty to $46,160. Lifetime, the grand mare has $269,582 on her card to go along with her Vernon Downs mark of 1:51.2.

All Charged Up paid $14.40 to her faithful.

Racing continues of Tuesday night with a Super Hi-5 carryover of $12,375 awaiting.

Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.

by John Berry for Pompano Park