15-1 upset in Fla. feature

Trotting Matrix, a 15-1 longshot, spoiled the seasonal debut of stakes-winner Johnny Muscles while taking the $5,500 featured trot at Pompano Park on Wednesday in a career-best time of 1:55.3.

Driven from post two by Donald Dupont, Trotting Matrix settled along the pylons in third place as the race favorite Johnny Muscles (Wally Hennessey) rocketed off the gate to claim the lead. The son of Muscles Yankee took the field through an opening quarter mile in :27.4 before reaching the half-mile marker in :56.4.

As the field moved down the backstretch, Dupont angled Trotting Matrix off the inside to attack first-over. The son of Yankee Glide responded emphatically, drawing alongside Johnny Muscles through a three-quarters split in 1:27, and moving past the leader on the final turn.

Entering the stretch with a three-length advantage, Trotting Matrix drew away from his rivals and was unchallenged to the wire, prevailing by seven lengths over a late charging Express Messenger (Bruce Ranger). Johnny Muscles finished third.

Trotting Matrix returned $33.60, $9.80, $8 for the victory, his first of the year. Express Messenger brought in $7.40, $4 for second, while Johnny Muscles paid $3 for third.

Owned by Ecuries Dupont of Coconut Creek, Fla., and trained by Marie Dupont, Trotting Matrix has a career record of six wins from 22 starts, with four victories from 12 appearances at Pompano Park.

Pompano Park’s leading driver Bruce Ranger visited the winner’s circle five times on the Wednesday program, including victories in each of the last four events on the card.

Ranger began his evening with a win behind Medoland Snuffy ($3.60) in the second race for trainer Don Brainard, before returning to take the eighth event with NF Independence ($6.40) for his stable trainer, Tom Beckette, and the ninth with O-Georgie ($8.40) for Jake Huff.

Ranger drove his third straight winner in race 10 with Just Listed ($4.40) for Beckette, before closing out the evening with his fourth consecutive victory, and fifth overall on the night, when taking the finale with Breast Your Cards ($5.00) for Brainard. (Pompano Park)

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