Karpathos and driver Joe Pavia, Jr. used perfect cover from pacesetter and rival Battleshoe Victor to score a length victory in the $16,000 Open Handicap Trot at the Isle Pompano Park Monday.
Battleshoe Victor (Anthony Napolitano) cut fractions of :27.3 and :57.4 before getting challenged on the outside by Splendid Yankee (Denis St Pierre) and Diva Diva (Andy Santaramo). They were unsuccessful in catching the leader by the three-quarter mile marker in 1:26, but Karpathos and Pavia were still in contention sitting in second place behind the leader.
As they started down the stretch, Farmer Jones (Kevin Wallis) moved three-wide into contention, but it was too late as Pavia moved out of the pocket with Karpathos, looked Battleshoe Victor in the eye and trotted on by to win in 1:56.1. Battleshoe Victor held for second with Farmer Jones third.
Owned and trained by Geoff Howles of Pompano Beach, it was the second win in three starts this year for Karpathos, an eight-year-old gelding by Balanced Image.
(Pompano Park)