Florida-breds in action at Pompano

November 12, 2009

A big night for the state-bred program provided numerous highlights as over $111,000 in purses was awarded over five races staged in the Florida Stallion Stakes and late closer Hurricane Stakes at The Isle Pompano Park on Wednesday evening.

The marquee match-up of the night was in the $17,500 Hurricane Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters. BK's Luv raced first over for the final five-eighths of the mile and finally ended the five-race win streak of Pearl Of Capri in 1:59.4. Tom Sells pulled the daughter of Anythings Possible-Luv To Trot to the outside at the wire the first time after a relaxed start and the rest of the mile was great theater as the division's top pair went toe to toe the rest of the way before BK's Luv took a narrow decision for her seventh win in 15 starts this year.

There were a pair of $22,388 divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. In the first split, Pocohontas Fame returned to form in a big way after a pair of off-stride outings to take a life's mark of 2:00. "The first order of business was a safe start and she sat in the three hole and relaxed for me really well until we started into the final turn," said driver Wally Hennessey. "That was a race I think she can keep going forward from."

The daughter of Famously-Native Pine competes from the care of Bob Roberts for Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach, Fla. and this was her seventh win in 10 rookie season starts. Prairie Treasure was second in rein to Ray Vizzi with Tabatha and Kevin Wallis following home third.

In the second division for 2-year-old filly trotters Your Not My Friend was brilliant in victory again, bringing a huge smile to the face of owner-trainer Bob Williams Jr. of Bell, Fla. after her effortless looking romp in 2:02.1.

"Really I couldn't ask for anything more from her, everything has gone exactly on game plan since her first start," Williams said of his Famously-She's A Loan miss. "Two starts ago she showed me a lot when she had post nine got by breaking fillies in front of her in the first turn. I'd stepped aside to use Mickey McNichol to drive her and she was just like a veteran. She was just as handy again tonight too sitting in a hole until well into the final half when Mickey pushed the button for her to go and she was just great. The way she's so handy is giving me a lot of hope she'll be in for a good three year old season in 2010 as well."

The top purse event of the event was the $33,424 purse Florida Stallion Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. When heavily favored Be Famous with Bruce Ranger could not find his stride, Im Possible seized the situation to front end his way to a 17-1 upset in 2:03.1 for Fred Morosini of Deerfield Beach, Fla. Mel Turcotte is co-owner, trainer and driver of the Anythings Possible-R Nonie colt who captured his first win in six career starts. Promising Venture with Hennessey and I'll Muscle Y'all with Matt Kakaley rounded out the top three.

Fern Paquet Jr. topped all drivers with the hat trick on Wednesday evening, which included a sharp 1:56.3 score by veteran trotting mare Slated For Success in a $5,000 conditioned test. Two of Paquet's winners on the card were trained by Jamie Paquet, including the trotting victory for the S J's Photo-Keystone Caviar mare owned by Tony Tambolleo. (Pompano)

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