Trotter wins ninth straight at Pompano

Rockome Vic moved atop the national standings in seasonal victories when extending his winning streak to nine at Pompano Park on Monday, taking the $9,000 claiming handicap trot at the South Florida oval in 1:58.

Starting from post six with George Napolitano Jr. at the lines, Rockome Vic bided his time in third place through the early stages of the trot as Karpathos (Wally Hennessey) marched on an uncontested lead through an opening quarter mile in :29.

As the trotters moved by the grandstand for the first time, Napolitano angled Rockome Vic off the pylons, and with a rush the son Valley Victor charged to the front, seizing control of the race through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:28.4.

Rockome Vic entered the stretch with a one-length advantage and was never threatened while drifting out down the lane, coasting through the wire unchallenged to tally a two-length triumph.

Rockome Vic returned $3.00, $2.20, and $2.10 for the victory. Karpathos brought in $2.20 and $2.10 for second, while B Cor Kenny (Kevin Wallis) returned $6 for third.

Owned and trained by Todd Stone, Rockome Vic is unbeaten in nine outings since being claimed for $8,000 on Jan. 12. For his career, the gelding has visited the winner’s circle 19 times in 88 appearances, and owns a career bankroll of $168,996.

With his Monday triumph, Rockome Vic claimed sole possession of the national lead in wins this year with nine, moving one victory ahead of a pair of Cal-Expo based horses, the 6-year-old mare pacer Cam’s Gidget and the 4-year-old trotter Ailene’s Prince.

Later in the evening, Gale Warning ($5.20) scored his first win of the season when capturing the featured $10,000 winners-over trot in 1:55.4.

Guided from post four by Hennessey, Gale Warning was parked in fourth place through an opening quarter mile in :28.4, but cleared the lead rather easily before carving out middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.4.

The 5-year-old son of Strong Gale entered the lane with a 2 ½-length advantage, and coasted home impressively to prevail by three lengths at the wire following a final panel that went in :29.

Owned by Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile, and Pomtambo Stable, and trained by Michile Lorenzo, Gale Warning is a 22-time winner from 83 career starts with a lifetime bankroll in excess of $223,000. (Pompano Park)

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