Home USA Modern Mercury takes mares open

Modern Mercury takes mares open

Pompano Beach, FL…February 28, 2017…Modern Mercury, cleverly handled by George Napolitano, Jr., took top harness racing honors in Pompano Park's $8,500 Open Trot for mares on Tuesday night (February 28), orbiting wide past her rivals turning for home to score by two lengths in a lifetime best performance timed in 1:54.3.

The four year-old daughter of Donato Hanover pinned the defeat on Serendipitious, driven by Wally Hennessey. Celebrity Artemis, with Marcello Spano in the sulky, finished third, 2¾ lengths off the winner, while She's All In, prominent throughout the mile, finished fourth. Bad Angel, last in the septet until mid-stretch, rallied to pick up the nickel.

It was Serendipitious winning the initial war for the top spot as she out-dueled She's All In to the opening turn to take command and blitz an opening panel in :27.2 and half in :56.2.

At this half-way juncture, She's All In remained cozy in her pocket with Celebrity Artemis next and M T Ur Pockets on the move from fourth and Modern Mercury picking up her cover.

On the backside, Serendipitious began to pick up the pace as She's All In continued patient while M T Ur Pockets was stalling a bit on the outside, forcing Napolitano to make a decision on when to tilt wide.

Just past the third station, "Nap" sent Modern Mercury into orbit and, turning for home, already had her sights on Serendipitious. At mid-stretch, it was virtually all over as Modern Mercury was on her way to victory with her :29 finale.

After the event, driver George Napolitano, Jr. remarked, "the last couple of starts, she did race good against the boys and being in with her own kind helped a lot.

"When I tilted her out wide turning for home, she was very willing to finish the job. She's a pretty solid mare."

Trained by Rob Harmon for owner John Campagnuolo, Modern Mercury won for the fourth time this year in eight starts, sending her seasonal earnings to $19,075. Lifetime, she now has nine wins and career bounty of $70,175 to go along with her new lifetime mark tonight.

As the 6 to 5 tote-board choice, Modern Mercury paid $4.40 to win.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with a carryover in the Pick-6, a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool and a Super Hi 5 carryover of $24,307.
 
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
 
by John Berry for Pompano Park
 

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