Anticipation mounting for Florida Super Night

November 19, 2009

The anticipation has been ratcheted up another notch for the Dec. 5 Florida Super Night as 2-year-old trotting filly Pocohontas Fame won again on Wednesday at The Isle Pompano Park. Her hopes thus remain alive of sweeping the four races needed to capture all of, or a share of the $100,000 bonus offered by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA).

"This was her second start since we added trotting hobbles and so far, so good since she'd made two breaks before that," explained co-owner and breeder Tony Amante of his Famously-Native Pine rookie filly. "We're relieved to get this one out of the way, the feeling has been the same as the previous legs, we heave a sigh of relief when it's over" he said in his live post-race TV interview.

"We'd even be happy to share that $100,000 bonus with Kim Sears' filly, Black Diamond Girl," adds Christine Garrity of the Amante Standardbreds ownership group on Pocohontas Fame, a winner in eight of eleven starts this year trained by Bob Roberts. "On Dec. 5 we're going to meet up against a really good group of fillies. We're happy with the way that 'Pocohontas' has looked while doing this but to win the final leg of any series of this type is never easy," she said.

With Wally Hennessey in tow, Pocohontas Fame was parked past the quarter of :30.4 on Wednesday evening in the $13,140 Florida Sale Stakes. She was in command the rest of the way with a 29.3 closer in reserve to hold at bay the first over challenge of Prairie Treasure and Ray Vizzi in 2:02.1. Captain Daves Girl with Tom Sells was third.

In the other split of the Florida Sale Stakes for rookie 2-year-old filly trotters, Pretty Girl went gate to wire for Kevin Wallis and held on in a tight photo in 2:01.1.

"She's got great gate speed and she really impressed me tonight with the way she was able to carry it to the finish," Wallis said in his live trackside TV interview. "She's still learning what it's all about and the Super Night on Dec. 5 should be really interesting, it's a real big highlight night every year here in Florida," the veteran of twenty-two Winter campaigns in Florida added.

Pretty Girl, by Wewering-Walhalla is trained by Kim Sears for Sandra and Richard Dunmire of Ft. Myers, Fla. It was the filly's first career win in nine appearances as she got the nod in the photo over Evening Attire and Your Not My Friend.

There was a single $18,380 division of the Florida Sale Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on the Wednesday evening program. When heavily favored Be Famous with Bruce Ranger made a first turn break it was wide open for his five rivals. Im Possible, with trainer and co-owner Mel Turcotte in the bike, sat in the pocket until the final turn and strolled home to win comfortably in 2:03.2. Calvin and Gator, a 40-1 longshot with Tom Lehmann in the bike, cut the mile and stayed for second while Be Famous recovered for third. Im Possible, by Anythings Possible-R Nonie picked up his second straight win as Turcotte shares ownership with Fred Morosini of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

The only other 2 year old in the running for a share of the $100,000 FSBOA bonus, Black Diamond Girl, will compete again on Friday night in the second of two $12,415 divisions of the Florida Sale Stakes for state-bred pacing fillies. The splits will be staged at 6:30 p.m. just prior to the regular Friday night card at 7:05 p.m. which will feature $13,000 purses for the Mares Open Pace and Open Handicap Trot. (Pompano Park)

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