Feeling good in the Isle of Capri neighborhood

Mr. Feelgood used the biggest stage in Florida harness racing to establish himself as the top older pacer in North America on Saturday, prevailing in the $267,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series final at Pompano Park in a track record-equaling time of 1:49.4

Driven from post four by Andy Miller, Mr. Feelgood was away from the gate alertly, settling comfortably in the pocket as Special Report and Wally Hennessey  went directly to the front, cutting the opening quarter mile in a modest :27.

“The race set up perfectly for us,” Miller said from the winner’s circle 
following his victorious drive. “We got out of the gate well, and so did Special Report, and we just followed him around the racetrack.”

Special Report took the field through middle fractions of :55.1 and 1:22.2, facing a first-over challenge from Western Ace and Howard Parker, while still being tracked intently from second by Mr. Feelgood.

Special Report exited the final turn with a 1 ¼-length advantage over Western Ace, who drifted out in mid-stretch while weakening, which provided Mr. Feelgood with the opening needed to angle off the pylons and  make a late charge at the leader, wearing that rival down in the final yards to post a half-length victory.

“Special Report brought us right to the top of the lane, and my horse was just loaded with pace when we turned for home,” Miller said. “Once we were clear, he finished the race extremely strong. The trip worked out just great.”

Mr Feelgood returned $12, $4, and $5.60 for the victory. Special Report paid $4 and $2.20 for second, while Western Ace brought in $3.60 for third. Fake Denario N, Maltese Artist, Green River Gorge, No Nonsense Yankee, Predator DVM, and Disco Dragon completed the order of finish.

Owned by Brittany Farms, Lindy Farms of Connecticut, and John Fodera, and trained by Jimmy Takter, Mr Feelgood has captured the two most lucrative pacing events offered this season, adding a victory in the $126,500 Presidential Series final at the Meadowlands to his Isle of Capri triumph.

“He’s had a great return to the races,” Myron Bell, a representative of Brittany Farms said. “We’ll most likely head to Yonkers from here for the George Morton Levy Series, and then pick our future spots from there.”

The 5-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear, out of the Jate Lobell mare Best of Memories, captured the first leg of the Isle of Capri Pacing Series in 1:51
on Feb. 16, but finished a disappointing seventh in last week’s second leg, stopping uncharacteristically after the half-mile marker.

“He suffered from heart fibrillation in last week’s race,” Bernie Norman of the Jimmy Takter Stable said after the race. “But he was fine the day after, and all week long he was doing really well.

“He warmed up great this evening,” Norman added. “And I knew the moment I saw the draw that we got the perfect spot, as most of the top contenders were on the outside.

“He’s quick behind the gate and can leave and get the right trip. Like he showed in the first leg, he can pace very fast when he gets a good trip.”

Mr. Feelgood’s winning time of 1:49.4 equaled the Pompano Park track record for an older horse, matching the mark set by Parson’s Den in 1999 and He Wants it All in 2006. The clocking was also one-fifth of a second off the all-age track record of 1:49.3, set by Load the Dice in last year’s Isle of Capri final. (Pompano Park)

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