Three-year-olds were in the spotlight as the FSBOA-sponsored Stallion Stakes were contested in four divisions — two non-wagering — at Pompano Park with Prairie Virtue, Rocks Stormyd, Gold Star Baron and Shulda Hada Drink grabbing the ceremonial blankets and the major shares of their respective purses.
With a total of $96,250 in play, Prairie Virtue kicked off the pari-mutuel program in the $24,500 filly trot and overcame her outside post and the necessity of a first-over backside journey to score in a lifetime-best 1:58 performance for Cory Braden, subbing in the bike for the injured Mike Simons.
The sharp daughter of Shibboleth Hanover, trained by Lisa Martin for owners Mary Martin and Laurie Poulin, used a :28.4 finale to, first, mow down the leading Ciao Bella (Alessandro Spano) and, then, hold off Prairie Trinket (Dave Ingraham) to score by a length. West Haven, Prairie Ginger and Bobs Legacy followed far back with Prairie Ginger and Bobs Legacy moving up a notch in the official order of finish for the final awards after pylon violations by West Haven.
As the wings folded, Ciao Bella zipped off the wings with Prairie Trinket away well from her inside post and Prairie Virtue skillfully avoiding some confusion and finding a cozy spot in third.
After opening panels of :28.4 and :59.1, Braden sent Prairie Virtue first-up as the pace quickened. At the third station (1:28.4), Prairie Virtue had closed the gap and, once straightened away, put the leader away and really never had an anxious moment after that.
“She had shown she can leave a little and I knew she can sprint a little, so I kind of used both of those good traits to leave a little and find a good spot," said Braden in a post-race interview. "I didn’t know if she’d like going first-up but she felt strong and I didn’t want to wait much longer.”
The win was her third straight and fourth of the year to send her seasonal bankroll to $28,784 and lifetime earnings to $65,634.
Off as the 3-5 toteboard choice, Prairie Virtue paid $3.20 to win.
The $27,000 filly pace went to Rocks Stormyd, getting a bit of revenge after an interference “DQ” in her last start.
The daughter of Rockincam, trained and driven by Braxten Boyd for owner Robert Truman, hit the wire one length better than a stubborn Prairie Sweetness (Wally Hennessey) with KKs Dream Girl (Braden) another nose back in third. Dice Dice Baby finished fourth, yet another neck away while Milleniums Girl picked up the nickel in the octet with the mile clocked in 1:55.3.
At the outset, Rocks Stormyd was away in good order as Prairie Sweetness and KKs Dream Girl traded punches, the latter reaching the initial quarter in :27.4 before Prairie Sweetness reclaimed and glided over to the half in :58. On the backside, that’s where the war really began as Braxten sent Rocks Stormyd on a binge that put her on even terms with Prairie Sweetness at the third station in 1:26.1. The slugfest continued until the 16th pole when Rocks Stormyd threw the knockout punch.
Rocks Stormyd now shows a 3-1-1 scorecard in 12 starts, with the win more than doubling her earnings coming in — now standing at $26,518.
The winner paid $7.80 as the second choice and gave Braxten Boyd his second — and richest — career stakes win, the first one being just 24 hours prior with Prairie Merida.
The $22,750 Stallion Stakes (non-wagering) featured a quartet of pacing geldings with Gold Star Baron taking the shortest route to victory for Dave Ingraham, in the bike for trainer Maggie Audley and owner Marianne Audley, with that mile in 1:53.2. This was a maiden win for Gold Star Baron, who had been chasing some “bearcats” with four third-place finishes in five starts coming into the action this night.
Lucky Ramsey (Corey Braden) was second after poking his head in front a 16th out while Mister David C (Hennessey) was another neck back in third. The pacesetter, Theflyingrock, finished fourth after doing all the work through panels of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.3.
Gold Star Baron was well back and saving ground throughout those fractions and, when the quartet fanned across the track turning for home, Ingraham took the shortest route to victory.
"Well, things just worked out," said Ingraham. "I didn't have much of a choice with the outside post as they all left inside and I was fortunate that the fractions were kinda lively. When they all fanned out wide turning for home, I also didn't have any other choice than to stay inside. I had clear sailing and Gold Star Baron did the rest. He sure had strong pace in the lane when it counted."
The win multiplied his lifetime earnings by, roughly, five from $2,990 to $15,502.
Shulda Hada Drink had an easy time in the $22,000 Stallion Stakes (non-wagering) mile featuring a trio of trotting geldings as the altered son of Shibboleth Hanover took charge at the opening quarter in :30.2 and widened his lead with every stride thereafter for driver Wally Hennessey.
The lightly raced sophomore with four lifetime wins in 10 career starts coming in, earned his first win of this season in five starts after posting subsequent panels of 1:01.2 and 1:31.4 en route to a handy 2:01.1 score. The early leader, Jo Jo Jet (Dave Ingraham), was second 5-1/4 lengths away while seeking Matthew (Alessandro Spano) was third.
Owned and trained by Nick Coblentz, Shulda Hada Drink enjoyed a $12,100 payday to send his 2021 bounty to $14,420 and lifetime bankroll to $57,692.
Racing continues on Tuesday with a trio of Open trotting events, another $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool with that industry low 12 per cent takeout and a ballooning Super Hi-5 finale with a carryover of $13,504. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)