Patience is paying the biggest dividend in a well deserved turn of fate for Florida horseman Tom Audley

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“Gold Star Glittler tested my patience this year but there was never a time that I was tempted to give up on her,” he beamed after his homebred miss took an eye-catching life’s mark in the $12,625 Florida Sale Stake on November 26 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. “In July up in Pennsylvania she proved to me she could hold her own with the Grand Circuit fillies when she started in the Reynolds Stake at Pocono. Her next start on July 16 was in the Tompkins-Geers Stake at Tioga Downs. She was following cover really well in the final half but got into tight quarters and suffered a deep cut to her knee. She didn’t start again until we were back in Florida in October. Like everyone, I gasped a bit when that half in :56 seconds went up tonight but she’s maturing and peaking at just the right time leading up to the FSBOA [Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association] Super Night on December 11,” Audley added.

Friday night’s test on a perfect 74 degree evening was almost a carbon copy of the Florida Stallion Stake on November 20. The Rick Schaut trained and driven Keep On Cookin cut robust fractions of :26.4, :56, and 1:25.1. Just like last start, Gold Star Glitter was covered up in the pocket until the field turned for home and the daughter of Squaws Fella-Siquista responded perfectly for driver Dan Clements to earn a life’s mark of 1:54.4. Audley, hailing from Bell, Florida, is the breeder, trainer, and owner of Gold Star Glitter. Keep On Cookin again persisted for second while Youtorturemefern, in rein to Gaston Lareau, was well back in third.

In the other Florida Sale Stake division for two-year-old pacing fillies, Angela front-stepped her way to a life’s mark of 1:55.4. Wally Hennessey was in the bike behind the Six Of Diamonds-Tuff Catch rookie as she recorded the first win of her eight-race career.

“I really felt she was coming up to a breakout effort like this,” co-owner and breeder Jay Sears commented. “What I really liked is the way Angela was so handy to come that back half in :57 seconds after she was asked to relax after making the lead early. This filly and [three-year-old] Black Diamond Girl look like two of our best heading up to Super Night on December 11.”

Kim Sears trains Angela, and Jay Sears shares ownership with Sandra and Richard Dunmire of Fort Myers, Florida. Her Request (Dan Clements) and Howards Noble Lady (Bruce Ranger) were next under the wire.

Twenty-nine-year-old Anthony Napolitano let his driving do the talking in a big way as he returned for the 2010-2011 campaign at Pompano on the November 26 program.

A former meet driving champion at the South Florida venue, Napolitano won in his first start back. After surviving a stretch inquiry, he piloted four-year-old gelding Speed O Begonia to victory in the $10,000-$12,500 claiming trot over favourite Peaceful Prince. He also returned to the winner’s circle later on the Friday night card with seven-year-old claiming pace mare GT Miss Royal. He also drove three starters on the same program that he is training, with Sees ALookin, Radiant Hall and Jessalilmixup all shipped in from Pocono Downs.

When racing resumes on Saturday night, a pair of $13,300 purse non-wagering races in the FSBOA Sale Stake for two-year-old pacing colts will be staged at 6:30 p.m before the 7:05 p.m. EST regular card. In the second non-wagering event slated for a 6:45 p.m. post time, Diamond Star will be trying for a third straight win the state-bred Fall Series. A victory on Saturday night would keep Diamond Star remain eligible for the $100,000 bonus offered to the connections of two-year-old performers that win all four of the Fall Series events, including the December 11 Super Night Florida Breeders’ Stake final.

(Pompano Park)