After hinting often that a breakout win was close at hand, Pacinello finally strutted his best stuff to win the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Pace on Saturday at Pompano Park

.

The top performer in the Rick Plano barn campaigning for the 2011-2012 season in South Florida, the six-year-old Little Steven-Princess Kiara pacer sat in line fifth in the weekly top class as Ricks Sign in rein to Fern Paquet, Jr. overcame the outside post eight to set the early fractions of :27.3 and :55.2 on the 58 degree evening. Turning into the backstretch the final time, Pacinello made a well measured first over move brush to the final turn in 1:23.2 and out stepped all of his rivals to the wire in 1:51.3. Rick's Sign held the place position and Brave Call with George Napolitano Jr. in tow followed in for third after a pocket trip.

Pacinello, who has also been registered for possible stallion duty with The Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA), increases his life's earnings to $307,195 with his 28th career win for D & E Racing Inc. of Las Vegas, NV.

He's had only 13 registered trips to his credit but 30-year-old horseman Tom Santeramo of Lake Worth, FL is off to a fine start in his driving career.

In the January 14 weekly outing for the charity based Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC), Santeramo guided nine-year-old veteran trotter Armbro Doyle to a front end win in 1:58.4 for owner-trainer Scott West of Vernon, NY. It was the 23rd career win for Armbro Doyle which increased his career bankroll to more than $293,000. Santeramo is also in the Pompano training colony with seven wins from 47 starters to date at this meet for purses of $34,000.

In the same race, there was a rare claim of a 14-year-old as Leo Sawyers anted up $5,000 to take over ownership and training of Sir Valahad. The Super Bowl-Paradise Valley gelding is a 66-time career of almost $800,000 that was originally developed by Doug Ackerman.

(Pompano Park)