Goldstar Rosie still alive for Florida bonus

Goldstar Rosie and driver Dan Clements were a neck the best in beating 10-1 Bling to win the $14,000 final of the Sunshine State Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Friday at the Isle Pompano Park and are now just two wins away from a $100,000 bonus check.

Bling and driver Mel Turcotte was first to show with Howards Twister (Joe Pavia Jr.) leaving from post seven to grab the two-hole seat. But that was short lived as by the opening quarter in the third race feature in :28, Clements had Goldstar Rosie in high gear and took command of the field. They raced Indian-style to the half-mile pole in :56.2 and that was when the action started to heat up.

Wally Hennessey came first-over with the 4-5 race favorite Callie Sweetheart and they started grinding their way towards the leaders, pushing the field to the three-quarters in 1:26.

Then as the field turned for home it became a two-horse race to the wire as Turcotte and Bling came after Clements and Goldstar Rosie and after a head-and-head battle down the stretch, Goldstar Rosie held off Bling to win in a photo finish. Her time of 1:54.4 was a lifetime mark and the fifth win in six career starts for Goldstar Rosie. Race favorite Callies Sweetheart was third.

“What a tight battle down the stretch,” said driver Clements. “That’s what racing's all about. The other filly was so close. They both raced great. And to think three weeks ago my filly nearly died from sickness and now has come back so strong.”

Sired by Rock On, out of Eileen Filly, Goldstar Rosie is trained by Tom Audley and was bred and is co-owned by Audley with Jamie Marra and Beth Levine.

Goldstar Rosie, along with Pearl Of Capri and Whosgoinwhosstayin, all must win their respective finals of the Sales Stake and Breeders Stakes to claim the $100,000 bonus offered by the Isle Pompano Park and the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association.

In the $14,000 final of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Alice Springs and driver Hennessey had little trouble leading from start to finish in the first race. Alice Springs won with ease by 3 1/4 lengths, also setting a lifetime mark in 1:54.4. Allee T (Bruce Ranger) was second with Just Be Original (Anthony Napolitano) third.

It was the fifth straight win for Alice Springs, a daughter of N Aboriginal-Ilsa who is trained by Tom Harmer and owned by the Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky. Alice Springs has now won 17 of her 18 career starts. For Hennessey it was one of his four winners on the night.

The final two horses that can remain eligible for the $100,000 bonus, Valentine’s Gator and Storming Howard, square off Saturday in the $14,000 final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Storming Howard, despite starting from the far outside in post nine, is the 5-2 favorite going for his fifth straight win. (Pompano Park)

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