Macombers hot at Pompano

Right now they are one of the hottest percentage winning father and son teams in harness racing. Richard Macomber as the trainer and Ricky Macomber, Jr., as the driver and this Saturday night at the Isle Pompano Park saw their numbers only increase.

Going into Saturday’s program at the Pompano Park, Richard Macomber’s Universal Rating as a trainer was .552, and Ricky Macomber, Jr’s Universal Driver Rating was at .396.

Then came the fifth race $16,000 Open Handicap pace, in which Ricky Macomber drove Vapor In The Wind ($3.40) to a 1:50.2 victory.

The race saw I Can Only Imagine (Bruce Ranger) shoot to the early lead over Sugar’s Pride, but after the opening quarter mile in :27, Macomber sent Vapor In The Wind right to the front, kicking in a :27.4 second quarter to pass the half-mile in :54.4.

Sahara Hall (Anthony Napolitano) came first-over in the backstretch and pressed the leader to the three-quarters, in 1:22.4, but that seemed to only wake Vapor In The Wind up even more, as he paced a last quarter mile in :27.3 to win by one-half length over I Can Only Imagine, with Sahara Hall third.

It was the second straight win and seventh victory in the last eight starts for Vapor In the Wind. Trained, of course, by Richard Macomber, the Tanah Merah Farms of Springfield, Ill. owns the impressive 5-year-old, gelded son of Cole Muffler, who has clearly been among the top pacers at the Isle Pompano Park this year.

For Ricky Macomber, Jr. it was one of two big victories on Saturday, as he also drove the winner of the third race $12,000 Open II pace, Eleven A M ($17.80), in 1:52.2.