Persistence paid off again for driver David Ingraham at The Isle Pompano Park on the Saturday evening, October 31 program as his achievement of 6,000 lifetime winning drives was saluted at the South Florida track
.
"I wasn't really on edge about it sitting on 5,999 for a few days," Ingraham said in a live trackside TV interview after class dropping trotter Henrytheeighthiam carried him to the milestone win in 1:57.1.
Ingraham had turned in a succession of second place finishes over the past three programs and was on the short end of a pair of tight win photo finishes last Wednesday evening.
"As for looking ahead...in this business I can't even begin to think about reaching 7,000. I prefer to concentrate on just getting winning drive 6,001 out of the way next."
The 47-year-old reinsman also recounted how his uncle in Maine introduced him to harness racing, even though he hadn't seen a race until he was almost 16-years-old. Ingraham also gave credit to his main career mentor, 64-year-old horseman Leigh Fitch of Maine, who is the winner of almost 7,500 races himself.
"It's been a great and interesting thirty years in the business," Ingraham said. "Nights like this...I still recall my first win with Miles End Fernanda in 2:08.4. To think most races now we're about 60-80 lengths better than that due to the breed improvement, equipment and track surface improvements is quite incredible."
Along with David Ingraham's milestone driving win the Saturday evening program in South Florida featured the $18,600 final of the Gator Series for Florida-bred two-year-old pacing colts and geldings and the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Stiletto Jake stepped up to win the Gator Series final in a life's mark of 1:54.3. The Spy Hard-Embers Glory colt was sitting in the pocket for driver Tom Sells when favourite Cracker Stoney with Wally Hennessey made a sudden break just after the three-quarter station was reached in 1:26. Robert Connor, Jr. trains Stiletto Jake for Marah Lee and Robert Barker of Ft. Lauderdale. Stiletto Jake comfortably held Three Putt Again with David Ingraham and Goldstar Vincenzo with Matt Kakaley at bay down the stretch to record his fifth win in eight starts this year.
Prime Time Talent was a repeat winner in the weekly $13,000 Open Handicap Pace as driver Wally Hennessey pulled him from the pocket in the third quarter to score with a pair of lengths to spare in 1:51.4. Mike Deters trains Prime Time Talent for Pine Vue Stables of Saranac Lake, New York. The Kassa Branca-Deas Camstress four-year-old gelding has won all three starts since arriving in South Florida. On this occasion Im In Luck with Matt Kakaley and Power Park with Walt Ross, Jr. were in a dead heat for the runner-up position.
The racing schedule at The Isle Pompano Park now expands to four programs per week for the month of November. Monday is added to the schedule starting on November 2 in addition to the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday programs. Post time is always 7:05 p.m. at The Isle Pompano Park.
(Pompano Park)