On Wednesday, October 23 at Pompano Park, Dont Spank Me, craftily handled by Bruce Ranger, captured the $10,000 final of the Sunshine State Stake for three-year-old fillies, scoring a gate to wire win in 1:54.4.
The Capital Request filly, owned by Jean Carter along with trainer Wayne Carter, grabbed the racetrack as the gate opened and wired together fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:26.3. She pinned a three and a quarter-length defeat on arch-rival Tashia (driven by Stephane Lareau). Dandee Diamond (Wally Ross Jr.) finished third, while Track Girl and I Spy A Gator also earned cheques in the field of six.
The win extended Dont Spank Me’s winning streak to three and pushed her lifetime bounty to $52,687.
After the race, Ranger said, "...this filly showed her merit last week with a lifetime best performance of 1:54, so, when I was able to rate her to the half in :58 and a piece, I was very confident from there. She's just a consistently solid filly and continues to get better and better. Wayne (trainer Carter) has done a very nice job with her."
Don't Spank Me, sent off at odds of 1-20, returned $2.10 across the board.
Mustang Sally and J D Eleven Bells were victorious in other Sunshine Stakes action.
In the featured trot, the Polo Stables’ Lugar, handled by Kevin Wallis for trainer Mark Friedman, used the draw to perfection to take top honours in 1:57.3. He held off the late-kicking Shes All In (Rick Plano) to score by a neck. Gale Warning (Andy Santeramo) was a fast-closing third, while I Love New York and Mr McRail also earned cheques in the field of nine.
Lugar discouraged early challengers with his usual sharp early foot. He took the field to a :28.4 opener. The five-year-old son of Famously then lollygagged over to the half in :59.1. As things heated up on the backside, Lugar, first repelled the challenge of Jon Win with a :29.1 third panel and duplicated that time in the final panel to hold on for the win, his ninth of the year.
Lugar's lifetime bounty now stands at $140,523, $60,626 of which has been earned this season.
(With files from Pompano)