A change is proving to be better than a rest for 10-year-old trotting gelding Karpathos at Pompano Park

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Since a private purchase last month by prominent amateur driver Jamie Marra of Delray Beach, FL, the veteran gelding has posted a runner-up finish and a pair of wins racing from the care of trainer Edgar Clarke. On the Saturday program, Karpathos was a dominant winner in 1:58 in the weekly event for the Florida Amateur Drivers' Club (FADC). Genesis Priority in rein to Dennis Whittemore was second and Jimmy Conway driven by Bill Bigler finished third.

Karpathos, by Balanced Image-Linfields Gem, is a full brother to 1993 Breeders Crown Open Trot champion Earl and his summary now shows 36 career wins for over $323,000.

The $14,000 featured event on the Saturday program had a 1-9 favourite and it turned out to be a hotly contested battle right down to the wire.

Heavily favoured was the Tom Harmer-trained entry of Four Starz Bling and Anescape N. Four Starz Bling surged to the early lead in :27 with Wally Hennessey in the bike and re-took the front early in the second quarter from C A Marauder in rein to Bobby Smolin. From there, Four Starz Bling sailed through the middle stages of :55.2 and 1:24.1 and into the stretch he put away the first over challenge of Avantage driven by Mickey McNichol. Swinging out from second over was three-year-old standout Waldy Jimmy partnered by Richie Simard and early in the stretch Waldy Jimmy took the lead, only to have Four Starz Bling battle back for a head decision in 1:52.2. Jerrys Brown Gold with Tom Sells in the bike rallied for third.

It was the 40th career win by Four Starz Bling, a nine-year-old Blissful Hall-Carrietowne gelding with $473,150 now banked for Ciara Stable of Willowbrook, IL.

The fastest mile of the night was turned in by hard closing 23-1 longshot Dartagnan at 1:51.4 in an $8,500 conditioned test. The seven-year-old gelding is co-owned, trained and driven by 71-year-old Veral Bowman of Deerfield Beach, FL. The career winner of 26 races and over $265,000 is co-owned by Inge and Frank Smith of Deerfield Beach.

(Pompano Park)