Pompano announces nominees

Nominations for the $250,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series and the $125,000 Mack Lobell Trotting Series, the premier events on the Pompano Park racing scheduled, have been released by race secretary Greg DeFrank. The Isle of Capri Pace has attracted 25 potential starters, with 14 trotters eyeing a spot behind the gate for the Mack Lobell.

Headlining the list of nominees for the Isle of Capri Pace is two-time defending champion He Wants It All. Owned by Michael Polansky of Loundonville, New York, and trained by Tom Harmer, He Wants It All finished fourth in the 2004 Isle of Capri Pace Final before returning to capture the 2005 and 2006 editions. The 7-year-old son of The Big Dog is a winner in 11 of 21 career starts at Pompano Park and has amassed over $800,000 in career earnings.

Harmer has also nominated Jereme’s Jet, champion 2-year-old colt pacer of 2005, to this year’s edition of the Isle of Capri. The millionaire son of Western Hanover has visited the winner’s circle 12 times throughout his career, including victories in the 2005 Breeders’ Crown 2-year-old Colt Pace, 2005 Governor’s Cup, and last season’s Windy City Pace at Maywood Park.

Nuclear Breeze, victorious in 10 of his last 12 starts, has also been nominated to the Isle of Capri Pace. The 5-year-old son of Nuclear High had an eight-race winning streak snapped on January 20 in the $50,000 second-leg of the Presidential Series at Meadowlands. The Roger Hans trainee has banked $273,196 in his career.

Load the Dice, recent upset winner of the second-leg of the Presidential Series at the Meadowlands, has been nominated to the Isle of Capri by trainer John McDermott. The 5-year-old gelded son of Cam’s Card Shark has prevailed in five of his last six starts, and his recent trip to the winner’s circle pushed him over the $400,000 mark in earnings.

Trainer Michael Burke has nominated Maltese Artist to the Isle of Capri Pacing Series. In 2005, the son of Artiscape finished second in the Isle of Capri Final and would finish the season with over $460,000 earned, highlighted by victories in the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park and the $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Maltese Artist finished second in a qualifying race at Pompano on Friday.

Local trotting sensation Tweedle Dum, who set a Pompano Park track record with 21 wins last year and was North America’s leading trotter, tops the list of 14 potential Mack Lobell starters. The gelding also tied the all-age track record at Pompano Park in 1:53.3 during his record-breaking season.

Tweedle Dum closed out his 2006 campaign with six consecutive victories for trainer Gordon Norris, and has visited the winner’s circle in 20 of his last 24 starts since a disappointing ninth-place finish in last year’s Mack Lobell Final, where the son of Star Challenge made a break prior to the start. In his first start this year, Tweedle Dum lost by a head to Muscular in 1:55.3 on Friday.

The 5-year-old trotting mare Victor’s Pursuit has been nominated to the Mack Lobell by conditioner Roger Welch. The daughter of Valley Victor is a multiple-stakes winner in Illinois, with over $260,000 in earnings, but has yet to compete outside the Prairie State.

Dink Adoo, an 8-year-old gelding with over $600,000 in earnings has been nominated to the Mack Lobell. The son of Inquirer is coming off a 2006 season where he visited the winner’s circle 15 times, banked over $210,000, and trotted his lifetime best mile in 1:53.

The Isle of Capri Pacing Series will begin with the $20,000 preview on February 3. The series will continue with the $50,000 first leg on February 10, the $50,000 second leg on February 17, and will culminate with the $150,000 added final, the richest harness race in Florida, on February 24.

The Mack Lobell Trotting Series will commence with the $15,000 preview on February 2 and will include the $25,000 first leg on February 9, the $25,000 second leg on February 16, with the $75,000 added final scheduled for February 24. (Pompano Park)

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