It's been a common occurence for many years in the weekly Florida Amateur Drivers' Club (FADC) events to see Laurie Lee Poulin as the only female driver in the race. Based on her record of success, it no longer comes as a surprise when she returns to the winner's circle

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That was the case on the Saturday evening, June 11 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park as the public sent Poulin and K M Sweet Dreams postward as the favourite in the $3,800 purse event for claiming trotters priced at $5,000. From Post 6, Poulin comfortably took command of the lead and guided the Famously-Ann Ks Komet eight-year-old mare through fractions of :30.2, 1:02.2 and 1:32.4. That superb rating allowed K M Sweet Dreams to kick away from the field with a :29.1 closing quarter for the open lengths win in 2:02.

It was the 58th lifetime driving win for Poulin and her third win in 15 starts in 2011. Poulin hails from Ontario and is a long time resident of Loxahatchee, Florida. K M Sweet Dreams was making her debut for Donna and Jim McDonald's Twenty Four Carrot Racing Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and this was her fourth win in 16 trips this year.

The $14,000 feature handicap pace on the Saturday night card featured a non-stop succession of lead changes by Sugars Pride (Chuck Connor Jr.), Four Starz Bling (Wally Hennessey) and Maxines Menace (Robert Hoffman) through early fractions of :27, :54.3, and 1:23.1. Sitting in seventh throughout and brushing up widest in the stretch to win the photo was Dartagnan in 1:52.2. Avantage, in rein to Mickey McNichol, was a tight second in the photo and Four Starz Bling held third.

Veral Bowman, at 71, the senior statesman of the driving colony at the South Florida venue, also trains the seven-year-old gelding by Mean Mr Mustard-All American Taboo and co-owns with Inge and Frank Smith of Deerfield Beach, Florida. It was the fifth win in 20 starts this year for Dartagnan to push his lifetime earnings to more than $276,000.

(Pompano Park)