The leading driver in the 48-year history of harness racing in South Florida, Bruce Ranger has done it again.
He summoned all of his skill to sweep both of the $6,000 purse three-year-old filly events for a second straight week in the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes on Wednesday evening at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
In the three-year-old filly trot event, it didn't look good for Ranger until mid-stretch as Selena was kept far back in the pack until the very late stages.
Pinch Of Thyme, driven by Mel Turcotte, came away with the final half lead after scrapping with Mica Michelle, in rein to George Lindsay, and Dessert Princess, with Jim McDonald in tow. Into the stretch, Pinch Of Thyme was clear of the field, but could not hold off the final half wide charge of Selena, executed by Ranger as they swept up to stop the clock in 2:00. Feel The Haze, in rein to Mickey McNichol, closed best of the rest for third.
Selena, by Anythings Possible from the Corleone mare Twenty One Bee, is a homebred owned by DCLD Stables of New York. She's racing in Florida from the care of Stewart Nemiro and the Bruce Ranger Stable.
Ranger's positioning was radically different in the three-year-old filly pace as he found a pocket trip for divisional standout Quail.
After vacating that spot turning for home after a three-quarter posting of 1:26.2, Quail was able to just edge the pacemaking Diamond Amber, driven by Mickey McNichol, when the wire arrived in 1:55.2. Gold Star Gidget, partnered by Walter Ross Jr., was third and Prairie Lee, in rein to Tom Sells, was a very tight fourth.
Quail, by Six Of Diamonds from the Cam Fella mare Armbro Robin, is owned and trained by the Kim and Jay Sears Stable. In addition to sweeping the Sunshine State Stakes, she's already amassed six wins from seven starts this year.
On Saturday, June 30, there's a 6:45 p.m. non-wagering race for the three-year-old colt pace division of the Sunshine State Stakes before the regular card at 7:05 p.m.
In Wednesday evening's weekly top handicap trot for an $8,500 purse, Mr Party Man used a single well timed stretch brush to win in 1:56.1 with Tom Sells in the bike. Ornellaia Dream, in rein to Walter Ross Jr., took the second half lead and only got caught late to settle for the place position. Wildfire, driven by Mickey McNichol, had the lead in the opening half, but that favourite finished well back in third.
Mr Party Man, a four-year-old gelding by Malabar Man from the Party Party mare Mrs Rincon D, is owned and trained by Mike Deters with Laurie Poulin of Okeechobee, Florida also sharing in the ownership of the five-time winner in South Florida this year.
(Pompano Park)