A thrilling Open Handicap Trot went right down to the wire on the Friday evening, October 23 program at The Isle Pompano Park with veteran gelding Gale Warning just edging the strong mare Diva Diva for top prize
Under another perfect weather setting in 82 degrees (28 C.), Diva Diva was sent through fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.3 by trainer-driver Andy Santeramo. They were confronted at the top of the stretch as Gale Warning, with Tom Sells at the controls, rated his charge first over in the final half and drew even late in the final eighth of the mile. At the wire it was Gale Warning about a head to the good in 1:55 as the Strong Gale-Lizs Promise stalwart notched his 32nd career win. His life's earnings now stand at $299,700 for trainer Michile Lorenzo, and owners Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile and Pomtambo Stable.
The other $13,000 purse co-feature on the Friday night card was the Mares Open Pace. Alice Springs, with Bruce Ranger up, blazed a wicked opening half pace of :27.3 and :54.2 to repel a second quarter challenge by Shytown Lightning with Andy Santeramo. In the final half, Alice Springs was forced into another confrontation when M A Jackie was served up first over by Fern Paquet, Jr. with Lucy Lucy and Wally Hennessey following second over cover stoutly. Early in the stretch Alice Springs was out of weapons and the outcome was apparent when Lucy Lucy was shown clear track to score in 1:51.4 with Nillabomb and Ray Vizzi closing up for second and M A Jackie holding third. Lucy Lucy thus earned her 26th career win for owner Jay Sears and trainer Kim Sears. It was the first start back following a pair of qualifiers for the Tough Sir-Small Change mare Lucy Lucy, who last competed in a pari-mutuel event on August 26 when she took her life's mark of 1:51.2 in the Mares Open at Pocono Downs.
Prior to the Friday evening program a pair of $4,500 purse divisions went to the gate in the second round of the Orange Blossom Series for Florida bred two-year-old pacing fillies.
Black Diamond Girl won the first division in 1:57.2 for her fourth win in seven trips this year for owners Jay Sears, Penny Kelly and William Kelly. Wally Hennessey rated the Six Of Diamonds-Money For Munchkin miss to a three-quarter pole clocking of 1:29.3. The pocket-sitter Perfect Design with Bruce Ranger in tow would never get close as Black Diamond Girl had a handy :27.4 closer in reserve for the wrapped up win.
The other division went to Diamond Chip, who pulled the pocket coming out of the final turn to catch the pace-setting Lady Luck Le Ru and Wally Hennessey in 1:58.3. Bruce Ranger drove Diamond Chip to her second career win in seven starts. The Six Of Diamonds-Stanwyck Blue Chip filly is co-owned by trainer Kim Sears in partnership with Jay Sears. It went down as a life's mark for Diamond Chip as she paced her own final quarter in 28.2.
Trainer Richard (Dick) Macomber made his first start of the Fall Meet at The Isle Pompano Park a winning one with six-year-old pacing mare My Perfect Rhyme. She toppled eight rivals in a $5,500 mares conditioned pace in 1:53.3 with Tom Sells in the bike for Tanah Merah Farms of Illinois. Other trainers sending out Friday night starters in South Florida after just arriving this week included Wayne Carter of Michigan and the Ontario stable of Noreen Paulin and Norm Dessureault.
(Pompano Park)