JK Big Shot fires at Ppk

JK Big Shot rolled off cover at the top of the stretch and stormed past the race favorite, He Wants It All, in the final yards to upset the $20,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series Preview at Pompano Park on Saturday, stopping the timer in 1:53.1.

Driven from the rail by Anthony Napolitano, JK Big Shot secured a spot along the pylons in fourth place while the two-time Isle of Capri Final winner and 2-5 favorite, He Wants It All, dueled with Doctor Viagra for the lead as the field entered the first turn.

After being parked through an opening quarter-mile timed in :27.4, He Wants It All cleared to the front as the field passed the grandstand for the first time. He Wants It All held the lead through a half-mile, in :56.3, and appeared in command as the field passed the three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Sensing it was time to apply pressure to the leader, driver Brett Miller pulled the trigger on Maltese Artist and angled the gelding off the pylons from third to attack first-over on the final turn. Seeing his opportunity to follow live cover, Napolitano tipped JK Big Shot to the outside and began his ideal, second-over journey.

Maltese Artist got within a length of He Wants It All before beginning to tire, and that is when Napolitano tipped JK Big Shot three-wide to make his charge at the leader. With the finish line in sight, JK Big Shot pulled on even terms with He Wants It All, passing that rival in deep stretch to prevail by one-half length, in 1:53.1.

“He got a nice trip,” winning trainer Gary Lemaister said from the winner’s circle. “Anthony did a great job driving him, and the horse is feeling pretty good. I’m just trying to manage him properly.

“He just turned four and he doesn’t have that many starts,” Lemaister continued. “But he has a lot of raw talent. He’s not a big horse, but he tries every time and never stops. I’m pretty confident he can keep things going this way.”

JK Big Shot returned $14.80, $3.00, and $2.10 as the race winner. He Wants It All held on for second and paid $2.20 and $2.10, while a late-charging Shattered Halo crossed the wire third, returning $2.20.

JK Big Shot is a 4-year-old son of The Panderosa and out of the Forrest Skipper mare Forest Melody, and is owned by Jean Picard of Orford, Que. (Pompano Park)

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