The FSBOA-sponsored Sunshine State Stakes were contested in four non-wagering classes for two-year-olds on Sunday (October 29) with new life marks produced in three of the four $12,000 finals — all trained by Kim Sears.
Jay and Kim Sears’ Proud Bushy trotting filly Jennifer took the opener for John MacDonald, stopping the timer in 2:03.4, lowering her previous mark by over five seconds.
Jennifer was sent to the front when the gate folded and marched through an opener of :31 before yielding to a rank I Rhoda Daley (Wally Hennessy), who raced very wide while taking command half way through the mile in 1:01.2. Approaching the third station clocked in 1:32.1, I Rhoda Daley again raced very wide allowing Jennifer to scoot on through to take command on achieve the win measuring one and three-quarter lengths. Ms Katie B (Gary Braden) was third and last in this event.
The $6,600 windfall pushed Jennifer’s earnings to $10,993 in her six starts with the bulk of the lucrative Florida Stakes season just ahead.
Wally Hennessey was in the bike for the juvenile trotting mile for colts and geldings and another Proud Bushy offspring, Brian, also owned by Jay and (trainer) Kim Sears, scored a gate-to-wire win in 2:02.4, lowering his previous mark of 2:06.3.
Clocking panels of :30, 1:01.1 and 1:31.3, Brian, named after Jay’s Hall of Fame son, scored by one and a half lengths over Prairie Eclipse (Mike Deters) with Treasure Quest (Tom Lehmann) next. Jiro Dangerous and Captain Thomas completed the order of finish in this quintet.
Brian added $6,000 to his earnings, pushing his bounty to $9,592 in his six career starts.
The $12,000 filly pace went to Krinda, giving Kim Sears her training triple and Wally Hennessey a driving double.
This daughter of Six of Diamonds, owned by Jay Sears, eclipsed her former mark of 1:58.2 with a wire-to-wire win in 1:57.3 -- :58 -- :29. Krinda’s opening panels were :29.1 and :59.3 along the way with her margin four and a half lengths over Diamond Eyes (Bryce Fenn) with Prairie Foolish (Jim Meittinis) third. Starcasim finished fourth while Prairie Stars was fifth in the sextet of youngsters.
Krinda now has bounty of $10,312 off of her 6-3-1-0 scorecard.
The two year-old pace for the colts and geldings went to Gold Star Diablo, a gelded son of Mysticism in 1:57.4. Wally Hennessey was in the sulky for the Mike Deters trainee, who was away fourth but rushed up to take command at the opening marker of :29. From there, 'Diablo' sliced through panels of :59.2 and 1:28.1 before a :29.3 finale sealed the deal by one and three-quarter lengths over Jay Jay (MacDonald) with Silver Wings (Corey Braden) next after a mild bid around the final bend. Dontblevmejuswatch was a distant fourth while Mister Special T picked up the final award.
Gold Star Diablo, already the owner of a 1:55.3 mark at Mohawk, has banked $14,630 in his first six trips back of the mobile starting gate for owner Dan Clements.
Pompano Park’s $10,000 Winners Over Pace went, in an upset, to Bestinthebusiness, driven by trainer James Yoder for Brett Boyd Racing.
The nine-year-old gelded son of Another Mile, went a brave first-over journey and, in a cavalry charge to the wire, eked out a photo finish decision over E R Melvin (Rick Plano) with Rockntouch (Mickey McNichol, third. The time was 1:52.2. The 1-5 favourite, Sing For Me George, was fourth after a stinging opening quarter of :26.2 and subsequent panels of :56.1 and 1:23.3.
In a post-race interview, driver James Yoder said, “He’s a tough horse that is very handy and not afraid to go first up on any competition.
“They were all right there at the finish so there is a lot of racing luck that plays into things and, tonight, we were the lucky ones.”
In garnering his sixth win of the year in 14 starts, Bestinthebusiness sent his seasonal bounty to $33,696. Lifetime, Bestinthebusiness has won 40 times with earnings of $383,400 to go along with his four year-old mark of 1:49.4 at Mohawk.
The winner was second choice in the betting and returned $9.60 to win.
In other action, the Florida Amateur Driving Club had two events on the card and Dein Spriggs swept both — the first with Extracurricular and the second with Garlandsandpearls.
Racing continues on Monday and Tuesday with first post set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)