They had delayed their first appearances in the 2009-2010 campaign until January 1 at The Isle Pompano Park but drivers Dan Clements and Anthony Napolitano received notice immediately upon arrival for duty
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Clements executed a sweep of the field in the third quarter in Friday evening's fifth race in South Florida in his first drive at the meet. Sitting last in a field of seven $10,000 claiming mares past the half, Clements tipped Daniels Scene three-wide to pace from last to first. The Artistic Freedom-Dont Make A Scene mare is owned and trained by Don Cromer of Pompano Beach and this win was in 1:55.3 over the track rated sloppy due to heavy rains earlier in the day. Sees A Lookin, trained and driven by Napolitano, cut the opening half of the mile and persisted for the runner-up position.
Napolitano, now 28, returns to Pompano after capping his best career year to date in the bike with 295 wins in 2009 for over $2.5 million in purses. Last year, he was the 2008-2009 leading driver in South Florida and in the summer months he was based at Pocono Downs. Last year was also Napolitano's best career year training thus far as he harnessed 50 winners for over $476,000 in purse earnings.
Clements will celebrate his 45th birthday later this month and has competed seasonally on several occasions in South Florida for almost two decades. At his Ontario home base when not at Pompano, Clements has won numerous driving titles at Georgian Downs and in his career he's posed for almost 1,900 winner's photographs for over $13 million in purses. He curtailed his training activities in 2005.
Esmeralda Survives Inquiry
The top event of the January 1 program at The Isle Pompano Park was the $13,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace. Favoured Esmeralda Semalu survived a first quarter inquiry when overtaking Chapsboots N Spurs, with Wally Hennessey, to record a dominant front end victory in 1:55.3.
In 2009, 'Esmeralda' notched 12 wins in 27 starts highlighted by her 1:49.4 tour of Pompano Park last March. For her six-year-old season's debut she was sent through fractions of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:26.4 before stopping the clock in 1:55.3. Other top choices, Alice Springs and Bling, faltered allowing Rio Raider, with Matt Kakaley, and Shytown Lightning, with Andy Santeramo, to complete the top three positions.
The Electric Stena-Anemone Semalu is owned by BJR and AGC Stables of Boca Raton and Highland Beach, Florida. She was one of several productive members of the Joe Pavia, Jr. stable in 2009 that helped to propel him to a career best year in the bike with 325 wins over for over $3.2 million in driving purses.
Saturday evening doubleheader performances at 7:05 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. resume on January 2 and continue at The Isle Pompano Park through April 3. The current meet runs through May 22, 2010 at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
(Pompano Park)