Van Lennep final attracts nine female pacers

A field of nine will assemble for the inaugural $55,800 Frances Dodge Van Lennep Filly and Mare Pacing Series final at Pompano Park on Friday, headlined by Carousel Frame and Queen Gambit N, both exiting triumphant performances in their respective divisions of the first and second leg of the series.

Owned by Let it Ride Stables Inc. and Robert Cooper Stables LLC, Carousel Frame enters the Van Lennep final with an unbeaten record in 2008, having visited the winner’s circle in each of her three outings, all of which have come at Pompano.

Carousel Frame invaded South Florida four weeks ago, taking a split of the Van Lennep Preview in 1:52.3 on Feb. 8, before returning to capture a first-leg division in 1:52 on Feb. 15.

The daughter of Dragon Again may have been at her best, however, when scoring impressively from post seven in last week’s second-leg split, stopping the timer in 1:52.1 when prevailing by 1 ¾ lengths after coming home in :28.1.

The Jeff Webster trainee has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, and will be driven from post seven by George Napolitano Jr.

Bell Valley Farms Inc.’s Queens Gambit N enters the Van Lennep final in peak form, having prevailed in each of her last two outings, including a lifetime-best mile in 1:52.4 when taking a first-leg division of the series on Feb. 15.

The Gary Lewis-trained daughter of Jeremys Gambit returned to prevail in her second-leg split in 1:54.1, and is a 15-time winner from 59 starts during her career.

Queens Gambit N will be driven from post eight on Friday, with regular pilot Dale Hiteman at the lines.

Up Front Lady, who has finished second to Carousel Frame in each of her last two outings, will look to reverse that decision when starting from post two in Friday’s Van Lennep final.

A winner in two of eight starts this year, and 14 of 39 overall during her career, Up Front Lady paced a winning mile in 1:53.4 to take a division of the Van Lennep Preview on Feb. 8, before checking in with consecutive runner-up showings in the first two legs of the series.

Owned by Ed Mullinax and trained by Richard Macomber, Up Front Lady will be driven by Ricky Macomber Jr.

The $55,800 Frances Dodge Van Lennep Filly and Mare Pacing Series final will be contested as the sixth race on the Friday program from Pompano Park. Superfecta wagering has been added to the betting menu for the race, which will also serve as the second-leg of the pick four. (Pompano Park)

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