There was plenty of drama in the $13,000 featured Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night at The Isle Pompano Park and when the dust had settled a new face emerged with the top prize
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A first turn break by Mighty Midas with Richard Simard scattered several in the backfield and the eventual winner, Cape Karuna, was pulled almost to a standstill as Armbro Dynamic with Andy Santeramo seized the lead. From the assigned outside post in The Isle Pompano Park’s top class, Object Of Art settled in second.
Armbro Dynamic rated the half in :56.3 with Cape Karuna mired far back in the pack. Object Of Art mounted his bid and the pair raced together into the top of the stretch after the first-over bid by Hero with Fern Paquet, Jr. faded.
Somehow Bruce Ranger rallied enough stretch pace from Cape Karuna from back in the pack to catch Armbro Dynamic in the closing strides to score in 1:53.3. It was the fifth win in 21 trips this year for the six-year-old Cape Crusader-Jates Shiva gelding campaigning for owners Rick Berks, Roger Slobody and co-owner/trainer Peter Blood. Object Of Art, dominant in the class for the first month of the meet flattened out late and settled for third.
It was part of a five-win performance by Ranger on the program. The all-time leading reinsman in track history also piloted the 50th career win for veteran trotter Guy Gets Girl from his own stable in a claiming event earlier on the card.
There were three divisions of opening round action in the Gator Series for Florida-bred two-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Cracker Stoney, a recent private purchase by Montreal’s Gerrie Tucker won his debut for trainer Steve Oliwa in a life’s mark 1:56. The Givemewhatineed-Cracker Glory gelding was able to hold off 1-9 pocket sitter Red Hot Howard with Bruce Ranger and One Tough Hombre with Jay Sears was third.
The other 1:56 winner in the Series’ opening leg was Diamond Howard in rein to Bruce Ranger for owners Michile Lorenzo, Souren Hovsepian and trainer Rod Lorenzo. That was the fifth win in six career appearances for the Mannart Howard gelding from former State champion Amethyst.
Also winning in the opening round of the Gator Series was Cracker Pullet in 1:56.4. The Raging Glory-Nasty As Can Be gelding is trained by Jim Martin for owner Russell Peavyhouse and Wally Hennessey was in the bike for one of his four wins on the program.
(Pompano Park)