Second no more - Andover America wins

A string of four-consecutive runner-up finishes was not stretched out into five for the trotter Andover America on Friday night at Pompano Park. He finally had everything go his way to capture the program's $9,500 featured event, and a life's mark of 1:56, in the process on the 75 degree evening in South Florida.

The 4-year-old Andover Hall--Armbro Array gelding is trained by Stewart Nemiro for McTrade Enterprises of Davie, Fla. With Bruce Ranger in tow, Andover America was at his hard-closing best to edge away after fast fractions were laid down by Karpathos, in rein to Wally Hennessey. Talk About Me, partnered by Matt Kakaley, shook loose late for the place position, with Karpathos holding third.

Andover America, who earned almost $80,000 as a 2-year-old, but did not race in 2008 at age three, thus recorded his fifth win in 21 starts this year. His life's bankroll now stands at more than $112,000.

Fern Paquet, Jr. shared the Friday evening program's top-driver honors with Bruce Ranger and Tom Sells, as each man reined in a pair of winners. Both of Tom Sells’ driving victories on the card were with starters in the care of trainer Gaston Claude. These included former Kawartha Downs mainstay PC Moonshine, who stepped to a life's mark of 1:56.4, over a $5,900 purse conditioned group, and former Rideau Carleton competitor Ornellaia Dream, who shared a win dead heat in a claiming trot with the Macomber stable's Smokey Yankee.

Joe Pavia, Jr., fresh from a Hawaiian vacation which followed his meet championship in the bike at Pocono Downs, notched his first win since arriving at Pompano as he reined the 3-year-old claiming pace filly Star Studded Gun in a life's-best 1:55.2 for owner Mary Gilbert and co-owner and trainer Geoff Howles. (Pompano)

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