Rain continues in Pompano winner's circle

Mark Rorabeck’s Southern Rain visited the winner’s circle for the fifth straight time on Wednesday when coasting to an impressive victory in the $25,000 Florida Sale Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Pompano Park.

Driven from post two by Bruce Ranger, Southern Rain settled briefly in third place during the opening stages of the Wednesday feature as Cracker Jame (Kevin Wallis) took the field through an opening quarter mile in :30.1.

As the trotters marched by the grandstand for the first time, Southern Rain was angled off the pylons to engage the leader, and with one quick move the son Wewering claimed the top spot, cutting out middle fractions of 1:01 and 1:32.1.

Southern Rain entered the stretch with a five-length advantage, and quickly shifted gears to draw clear of his overmatched rivals, crossing the wire 9 3/4 lengths the best while covering the mile in 2:02.4.

Southern Rain returned $2.40 and $2.10 for the victory, while Trot Monster (Wally Hennessey) brought in $2.10 for second. I’malittletootall (Lawrence Hayward) crossed the wire third. There was no show wagering available on the race.

Trained by Mike Deters, Southern Rain has gotten his picture taken in eight of his 10 lifetime outings. With his trip to the winner’s circle following the Wednesday feature, the gelding pushed his career bankroll over the $40,000 mark.

Baileysirishdream put in a memorable performance in her Sunshine State debut, capturing the first of two $16,450 Florida Sale Stakes divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies with an effortless triumph in 2:03.

Owned by Barbara Bailey, trained by Richard Bailey, and driven by Ranger, Baileysirishdream led at every call en route to her seventh victory from eight lifetime starts. Famous Valentine (Hennessey) finished second, while Happy Bee (Tom Haughton) was third.

Earlier this season, Baileysirishdream captured the $86,500 Kindergarten Classic Series final at Vernon Downs, and on Aug. 12 the daughter of Matchem Hanover trotted the fastest mile by a juvenile filly at Tioga Downs when stopping the timer in 1:58.1.

With her Wednesday trip to the winner's circle, Baileysirishdream pushed her lifetime bankroll over the $76,000 mark.

Ranger guided Discreet Encounter to her fifth victory from 11 career starts when taking the second $16,450 Florida Sale Stakes division for the juvenile filly trotting set in 2:04.1. Strut (Walter Ross Jr.) overcame an early break to finish second, while Dove Canyon (Gaston Lareau) crossed the wire third.

Owned by Deters and James Armstrong, Discreet Encounter has now prevailed in each of her last three starts, and the daughter of Wewering owns a lifetime bankroll in excess of $24,000.

Racing returns to Pompano Park on Friday with a 7:25 p.m. post time for a 12-race program that is headlined by the $24,150 Florida Sale Stakes for juvenile pacing fillies, featuring the unbeaten Alice Springs. (Pompano Park)

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