A big night for the state-bred program provided numerous highlights as over $111,000 in purses was awarded over five races staged in the Florida Stallion Stakes and late closer Hurricane Stakes at Pompano Park last night.
The marquee match-up of the night was in the $17,500 Hurricane Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies. BKs Luv raced first-over for the final five-eighths of the mile and finally ended the five-race win streak of Pearl Of Capri in 1:59.4. Tom Sells pulled the daughter of Anythings Possible--Luv To Trot to the outside at the wire the first time after a relaxed start and the rest of the mile was great theatre, as the division's top pair went toe to toe the rest of the way. BKs Luv took a narrow decision for her seventh win in 15 starts this year.
There was a pair of $22,388 divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies. In the first split, Pocohontas Fame returned to form in a big way after a pair of off-stride outings to take a life's mark of 2:00.
"The first order of business was a safe start and she sat in the three hole and relaxed for me really well until we started into the final turn," said driver Wally Hennessey. "That was a race I think she can keep going forward from."
The daughter of Famously--Native Pine competes from the care of Bob Roberts for Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach, Florida and this was her seventh win in 10 juvenile starts. Prairie Treasure was second for driver Ray Vizzi. Tabatha and pilot Kevin Wallis finished third.
In the second division for two-year-old trotting fillies, Your Not My Friend was brilliant in victory again, which brought a huge smile to the face of owner-trainer Bob Williams, Jr. of Bell, Florida. The filly's effortless-looking romp was clocked in 2:02.1.
"Really, I couldn't ask for anything more from her, everything has gone exactly on game plan since her first start," Williams said in his live post-race TV interview. "Two starts ago, she showed me a lot when she had Post 9 [and] got by breaking fillies in front of her in the first turn. I'd stepped aside to use Mickey McNichol to drive her and she was just like a veteran. She was just as handy again tonight, too, sitting in a hole until well into the final half when Mickey pushed the button for her to go and she was just great.
"The way she's so handy is giving me a lot of hope she'll be in for a good three-year-old season in 2010 as well," Williams said of his Famously--Shes A Loan miss. Pretty Girl and driver Kevin Wallis finished second, while Captain Daves Girl and pilot Tom Sells were third.
The top purse event of the event was the $33,424 Florida Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. When heavily-favoured Be Famous (driven by Bruce Ranger) could not find his stride, Im Possible seized the situation to 'front-end' his way to a 17-1 upset in 2:03.1 for Fred Morosini of Deerfield Beach, Florida. Mel Turcotte is co-owner, trainer and driver of the Anythings Possible--R Nonie colt who captured his first win in six career starts. Promising Venture and driver Wally Hennessey and Ill Muscle Yall with pilot Matt Kakaley rounded out the top three.
The Florida Stallion Stakes and the Hurricane Stakes continue Friday evening, in addition to the weekly $13,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.
(With files from Pompano)