In spite of the fact he's now 11 years old, trotter Scorpion Moon is serving notice that he hasn't lost a step
.
In the Wednesday evening, February 8 feature event at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, the Armbro Scorpion-Angies Nugget gelding was in absolute top form to earn a 1:54 victory in the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Trot. It was not only the durable veteran's 80th career win, but also the fastest trotting mile to date at the current meet, which began last September 21.
With Joe Pavia Jr. in the bike for the veteran trotter's third start back for 2012, Scorpion Moon won a big early speed battle over Jaavos Boy, in rein to David Ingraham, to the quarter in :27-seconds. Keystone Thomas, partnered by Bruce Ranger, stepped into the pocket as Jaavos Boy had to relent back to third to the half in :56.3. In the backstretch, Jaavos Boy was used a second time in the mile to the final turn in 1:24.3, but he could not reach Scorpion Moon, who went the rest of the way with daylight to spare.
Although it was a few weeks later than normal, the win by Scorpion Moon also marked the return to the Pompano winner's circle for the first time in the 2011-2012 meet for owner and trainer Tracy Brainard of DeLeon Springs, Florida since she returned to her winter base from upper New York state. Scorpion Moon now counts $906,490 in career earnings from 221 career starts, with well over a third of those being victories.
This Saturday evening, the Miami Gourmet Food Trucks return for a trackside summer party with a new $250 payout bonus incentive starting on February 11 for on-track guests able to select all nine winners in the nightly 10 cent MEGA-9 wager, which now has a carryover jackpot of more than $6,400. Next Tuesday, February 14, the Sweetheart Pace will feature a cast of the continent's top female drivers as one of the highlights on the Valentine's Day program at Pompano.
(With files from Pompano Park)