It hasn’t taken driver Dan Clements long to pick up from where he left off in South Florida last May
at the end of last season. He topped the driving colony with a three win performance on Monday at Pompano Park.
“I have to give JJs Gazette the credit, he pulled me out of there just great to get that pocket trip,” Clements said after the 1:52.2 mild upset in the $12,000 purse featured winners-over pace. “Those horses like the favourite Bill On Thehill A that had been up in the $75,000 claimers at Yonkers are going to be tough to beat soon. We were lucky to sit on his back all the way and we might have caught him just a bit short in his first start here.”
After Clements and JJs Gazette surged to the lead in the final eighth of the mile, Tough Trooper was urged through on the inside by Wally Hennessey to take down the place prize with Billonthehill A partnered by Mike Micallef a solid third. JJs Gazette was making his first start back in the care of trainer David Mogan after a late Summer campaign at The Meadows. The eight year old Whiteland Fella-Almahurst Gazette gelding is owned by Kenneth Freeman of Coconut Creek, FL.
“It’s sure great to be back in Florida and I hope to stay here right through the end of the Meet next May,” Clements added. “I had a different sort of Summer back in Ontario in 2010. I didn’t travel around like I used to and I focused just on Georgian Downs. Whether I stay in Florida for this whole meet is a point of discussion with my wife Mary at this stage.”
Brown Was 14 Years Between Pompano Wins
When four year old pacing mare Samantha Q went a big first over trip to capture a $6,000 purse conditioned event in 1:53.4 on the October 18 program it gave driver Doug Brown occasion to search his memory banks for just when his last win was in South Florida.
“It was about 14 years ago in 1996 when Royal Mattjesty won the Matron Stakes here that I last visited the winner’s circle at Pompano.” Brown said. “It’s a relief to get this first one out of the way. (Trainer) Edgar Clarke had this mare
just super tonight and I’m really enjoying the whole package of moving here to train and drive for the coming season.”
Samantha Q, the only mare in the field, was out and moving well before the half and raced up alongside the tempo setting Four Starz Delivery with Bruce Ranger in tow before finally edging past by a slim margin in the closing strides. Ownership of the daughter of Real Artist-Paige Nicole Q is held by Cheri Clarke of Sacramento, CA.
Live action at the Winter Capital Of Harness Racing resumes on Wednesday, October 20 at 7:05 p.m. The feature event of the program is a $12,000 purse winners over $10,000 lifetime trot featuring accomplished veterans Tom Cango and Gale Warning, who have earned over $445,000 in their careers.
(Pompano Park)