Bruce Ranger, the all-time winningest driver in the history of Pompano Park, escaped from what could have been a serious accident Saturday when right before the start of the second race pace, he was preparing to leave from post six with Ignite My Fire when the right line broke.
Within seconds after the start of the race Ranger was able to slip his legs out from the race bike and then held on to the seat as his feet dragged on the track. Ranger held the position as field started to pull away and then let go, dropping to the track surface.
Ranger, 48, was able to walk away from the incident with just a few bruises and torn driving colors. Ignite My Fire ended up hooking wheels with Grandioseurofightr but both horses escaped with only minor scrapes. “I’m too old to try and ride it out anymore so I just bailed out.” Ranger said with a laugh. “The right line just snapped off and I knew I had to get out of the bike because it was the start of the race. I hung on a little longer than I wanted to because I saw that the broken line was wrapped around my leg, but once it cleared away I just dropped off and everything was fine. I had this happen once before and I did the same thing so I knew right away to get out of the bike.” The accident did not slow Ranger down one minute as he was back in the sulky for the very next race and drove I’m In Luck ($4.20) to a 1:51.2 victory in the $12,000 winners-over feature pace. Leaving from post four, I’m In Luck sped to the opening quarter mile in a blazing :26.1 with Pan Prix (Dan Clements) settling into the two-hole position. They raced Indian-style to the half-mile pole in :55. Then in the backstretch, driver Wally Hennessey came first-over with Murcielago and pushed I’m In Luck to the three-quarters in 1:23.1. But the field started down the stretch, Ranger was able to urge I’m In Luck on and the pacer responded by pulling away at the finish to win by one and one-quarter lengths. Pan Prix held for second place with Cape Karuna (Walter Ross, Jr.) closing to be third. Owned by the Pine Vue Stables of Palm Beach Gardens, it was the fifth win this year for I’m In Luck. Mike Deters trains the 7-year-old gelding by Camluck. (Pompano Park)
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