The back and forth volleying between Jim McDonald and Kim Sears for top trainer honours looks like it will go right down to the July 28 conclusion of the Spring/Summer meet at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park

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In the $6,500 purse secondary feature on the Saturday, May 26 program in South Florida, McDonald harnessed up his ninth winner from 26 starters. Buggsy Yankee, partnered by Dan Clements, popped out of the pocket early in the stretch and won the photo over Sugars Pride, in rein to Bruce Ranger. Spring Again, with Andy Santeramo, was well back in third.

Ownership of Buggsy Yankee, a six-year-old Western Hanover-Breathe gelding, was taken over four starts ago by Pacing Pretty and Twenty Four Carrot Stables of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Not to be outdone on the program was trainer Kim Sears, who sent out Talk To Tony, guided by Andy Santeramo to a dominant 1:52.3 score in the $8,500 Isle Mile Open Handicap Pace, which included a :27.2 closing quarter. The hard-closing Northern Companion was brought up for the place prize from a second over trip worked out by Robert Hoffman, and Waldy Jimmy, with Dan Clements in tow, followed in for third.

Talk To Tony has now won eight of 15 starts at Pompano in 2012, amassing earnings of $41,375 this year for owners Jay Sears of Osteen, Florida and John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, Florida. He was the seventh winner from 26 starters this meet sent out by Kim Sears.

Memorial Day weekend at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano features a huge fireworks show just after sunset on Sunday evening, and the resumption of live harness racing on Monday evening, May 28. Just two Monday programs remain on the Pompano meet in addition to the Wednesday and Saturday cards, which continue through the end of the current season on July 28.

(Pompano Park)