Paragon claimed again at Pompano

The claiming tug of war for pacer Paragon continued on the Monday evening card at the Isle of Capri Pompano Park.

 

For this start he was dropped from the Open-3 class back to a $15,000 price tag and scooping up the Cambest-Lola 8-year-old pacer this time was Melvin Fink of Michigan. After two starts in the Peter Pellegrino barn for Coral Springs owner David Schneider, Paragon will return to the Paul Holzman barn where he raced from on Jan. 30 and Feb. 10. Prior to that, the former Cam Fella Series winner from Woodbine was campaigned at Pompano since last fall by trainer Stephane Bardier for Ontario owner Richard Moreau.

 

On the March 8 program under ideal conditions and 68 degrees, Paragon was again an impressive front-end winner in 1:52. It was the third time he's been claimed in his past six starts.

 

The trotting feature on Monday evening was the $10,000-$12,500 claiming handicap. From the outside post in the field of seven starters, 10-year-old SJ's Photo-Keystone Caviar mare Slated For Success benefited from a perfect trip in the final half outer flow in rein to Fern Paquet Jr. to score in 1:58.1 over Brancaleone with David Ingraham and Dee Day Fame partnered by Dan Clements. Jamie Paquet is the trainer of Slated For Success and is the co-owner with Robert Caruso.

 

Also on Monday night, the winningest driver in track history, Bruce Ranger, returned from a short vacation and he won his first start back in the opening race with maiden pacer Loverboylou in 1:55.1 for owner Souren Hovsepian and trainer Michile Lorenzo. Ranger also steered claiming pacer Fox Valley Michael to a sharp 1:54.3 front end win for owner-trainer Fred Cohen.

 

Driver David Ingraham added another tally to his list of incredible longshot wins for the meet. He reined in Remington Style at 42-1 in the $6,000 claiming pace for owners Sara and Philip Seckler and trainer Allan Johnson to conclude the Monday evening proceedings. (Pompano Park)