A brilliant sunny Saturday morning with a temperature in upper 70's (26 C) served as an ideal setting for the start of the on-track action for the 2010-2011 season at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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A total of 15 races for combined purses of over $55,000 were staged in first leg action of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes for state-bred two and three-year-old trotters and pacers. Stealing the spotlight were four winning starters sent out by the Michile and Rod Lorenzo stable.
"We've shipped back from Indiana with a stable of 15 horses, which is almost too many," said Rod Lorenzo. "But we're just ecstatic with having four of them come back winners today. It sure gives us a positive attitude to help us cope with our heavy workload and we sure have lots to look forward to this fall," he added.
The Lorenzo stable's standout winners featured a full sister and brother, two-year-old pacing filly Ruby Howard and her three-year-old brother Diamond Howard. Both are sired by Mannart Howard and are from the Lorenzo stable's former FSBOA champion, Amethyst. Ruby Howard was a flawless winner in her lifetime racing debut in 2:03.2 under a stout hold. Diamond Howard beat a top state-bred field of three-year-old colt and gelding rivals in a life's mark of 1:54 under restraint after sprinting a back half in :55.4 and a final quarter of :27.3.
The other winners sent out by the Lorenzo stable were two-year-old pacing filly Howard C Crist (Mannart Howard-Turks Reality) and three-year-old pacing filly Help Me Howard (Mannart Howard-Tidy Hall). All four winners from the Lorenzo barn were driven by Bruce Ranger.
The 2009 FSBOA two-year-old champions returning home to Pompano for the session included trotting filly Pocohontas Fame, pacing colt Stilleto Jake, and pacing filly Black Diamond Girl. Of this trio, only Black Diamond Girl would come up a winner. The daughter of Six Of Diamonds-Money For Munchkin, trained by Kim Sears, was brushed to the front by Wally Hennessey at the quarter pole and was in control to win handily in 1:58.2.
A total of 37 Florida bred two-year-olds made their first lifetime starts on this same program. Stepping to the head of the class in the two-year-old colt and gelding trot division was Ambush with a 2:02 performance under restraint with Wally Hennessey in tow. Ambush, a Proud Bushy-Promising Winner gelding, is owned and trained by Jerry 'Buck' Sprinkle of Ocean Ridge, Florida.
On October 9 at 9 a.m. the second leg of the FSBOA's Sunshine State Stakes will be staged at Pompano and third leg action will be a part of the track's opening night celebrations on October 16 as the 47th anniversary season begins at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. The 2010 FSBOA Super Night Championships will be held at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park on December 11.
(Pompano Park)