The talent and improvisational abilities of leading horseman Bruce Ranger were tested to the limit and he devised yet another way to win in the top trotting class feature at Pompano Park on Wednesday, January 5

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With his stable stalwart Andover America on the sidelines after five straight wins, Ranger summoned his bench strength to execute a big win from back in the pack with Keystone Thomas.

"This is a really nice handy horse and people shouldn't make too much of the fact that I drove Andover America when they were both entered together," Ranger said in a live trackside TV interview after Keystone Thomas earned a life's mark of 1:54.1.

"He won 11 races last year and he's still coming into his own. I knew that Southwind Vavoom was really fast after watching him race up in Toronto. I didn't expect the fractions to be as fast as they were and I didn't ask my horse to even try to keep up until well into the last half."

That early speed show Ranger spoke of was courtesy of Ontario invader Southwind Vavoom. Trainer, driver and co-owner Lormer McClure cut his charge loose right off the starting gate wings to post fractions of :27, :55.4, and 1:24. With Baseball Express (driven by Mike Deters) forced into a parked-out trip the backfield was in motion turning for home.

Keystone Thomas, owned by Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach, FL was the best in the stretch to hold off a wide sweeping Ginger Tree Jimmy in rein to Chuck Connor, Jr. Senator Hall, with Joe Pavia Jr. at the controls, could only muster the show prize after a pocket trip. Southwind Vavoom held fourth.

Ranger Milestone Countdown Hastens

In addition to Keystone Thomas, Ranger brought home trotters Eel and Dr Cal, along with pacer Big Business, for a four-win performance on the program.

The 51-year-old horseman, who hails from Portland, Maine, is not only the leading driver in Pompano's 47-year history, but he's also just six driving wins away from joining the 8,000 win club. Ranger's driving purses recently surpassed the $31 million plateau.

On Saturday, January 8, the Pompano action will begin early at 6:30 p.m. with a pair of non-wagering events for Florida-bred three-year-old pacers in the championship finals of the the Orange Blossom Series and the Gator Series. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at Pompano.

Program pages, race night streaming and replays are available for free in the 'racing' section of theislepompanopark.com.

(Pompano)