Instead of stressing out his connections by inexplicably pulling himself up during a race, trotter Fancy Shot has decided for at least the time being he likes pulling up to the winner’s circle after a race instead

.

“He’s had that quirk for a lot of years now and he keeps us on edge because we never know when he’s going to do it,” said Fancy Shot’s co-owner Doug Culham of Oakville, Ontario. “A few years ago we got fed up with him and sold him to a fellow in Virginia. They couldn’t get him to trot a single step. We decided a bit reluctantly to take Fancy Shot back and fortunately, he’s in the care of Doug Brown. In his September and October starts he was pulling himself up but his last two races in Florida have been great and Doug’s been able to figure him out again.”

In the $8,500 purse test for upper level conditioned and claiming trotters, Catamount N driven by Marc Major and Fudgjoe with Tom Sells in the bike were involved in a sizzling early speed duel to the quarter of :27.3 and the half in :56.3. Turning into the backstretch, Brown had the eight year old Angus Hall-Fancy Fancy Fancy gelding circling to the front and drawing away into the last turn in 1:26.1. Fancy Shot coasted home comfortably in 1:56.1 with race favourite Mccoy (Wally Hennessey) and M C Felix (Richard Simard) following next the wire.

Before coming to Florida, Fancy Shot competed with the $35,000 claiming class at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Trainer-driver Doug Brown holds an ownership share along with Culham and Garry Bye of Peterborough, Ontario. It was the 28th career win for Fancy Shot, a career winner of over $234,000.

“I’m heading back to Canada in the morning and this puts me in a much better frame of mind to go north again,” Culham said. “Fancy Shot might have to go back up into the top class here. For now at least we’re happy he pulled up into the winner’s circle instead of during the race.”

Also on the November 10 card in South Florida was the $12,000 purse weekly top trot. Andover America established command at the :28.2 quarter for Bruce Ranger and breezed home through quarters of 1:00, 1:29.3 and 1:57.2 after holding off the first-over bid of Mr Tasty in rein to Wally Hennessey. Race favourite Gale Warning partnered by Tom Sells followed in for the place prize, while Keystone Thomas with Doug Brown up nipped Mr Tasty in the show photograph.

The Wednesday evening program also saw the unveiling of the South Florida track’s $2,500 pool guarantee for the Wednesday evening Pick-4 with a reduced 15% takeout. The offering was well received by the public as almost $4,000 poured into the Pick-4 pool and a $2 winning ticket returned $396.00.

When racing resumes on Friday evening November 12, a $12,000 purse goes on the line for the eight entrants in the Fillies and Mares Handicap Pace. Post time is 7:05 p.m. EST each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing with Tuesday cards added to the schedule from December through March.

(Pompano Park)