His name confirms he’s racing in the right locale and two-year-old colt pacer Full Of Sand is fulfilling the dreams of his avid 92-year-old owner and breeder in Florida with each passing start
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“This couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy, and Bill White is just a great owner and so great for the business,” trainer Jake Huff said in a live post-race TV interview.
Full Of Sand, by Full Of Fun-Soft Towel, had just romped home by four and a half lengths in the $22,512 Florida Stallion Stake on November 20 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
“Ray Paver did a terrific job putting the foundation into this colt up at The Meadows through the end of September. By the time he got here he was pretty much a finished product. I’m not surprised this colt stepped up for that 1:55 life’s mark at all tonight,” Huff added.
White, also the breeder of Full Of Sand, races under the White Creek Stable name registered to his home in Boynton Beach, Florida.
In this test in the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) Fall Series event, Mike Micallef positioned Full Of Sand in the pocket behind Stevie Rays Dream and driver Wally Hennessey in the early strides. That’s how they raced until the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3 when Full Of Sand exploded to the outside going into the final turn and widened away under a hand drive. Stevie Rays Dream persisted for second while Alabama Howard, in rein to Bruce Ranger, followed in for third.
“Bill White and his wife are here in the winner’s circle again tonight and that’s incredible at their age but I’m not surprised because of how much they love their horses and harness racing,” Huff added. “The best case scenario is that Full Of Sand stays as he is through the Florida Breeders Super Night on December 11. A decision will be made in consultation with Ray Paver after that on whether we turn out Full Of Sand or keep him racing.”
In the Florida Stallion Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies on the same program, Keep On Cookin suffered a photo finish defeat in her $24,187 purse division. That ended a five-race win streak in the FSBOA Fall Series and her chances at a share of the $100,000 bonus offered to the connections of two-year-olds that go undefeated in the state-bred program.
Rick Schaut trains and drives Keep On Cookin and she cut all the fractions of :28.1, :58.4, and 1:27.1. Gold Star Glitter, in rein to Dan Clements, made the first over move before the half and prevailed in the photo after a stretch long duel. Angela, with Wally Hennessey in tow, was well back in third.
Gold Star Glitter, a daughter of Squaws Fella-Squisita, is owned and trained by Tom Audley of Bell, Florida. It was her second win in seven trips this year and she earned a speed badge of 1:56.3.
The undercard on Saturday night in South Florida featured the $12,000 purse winners over $10,000 lifetime handicap pace. Dragons Blood was a strong front end winner in 1:53 in rein to trainer Mike Micallef over Wally Hennessey’s Tough Trooper and Fox Valley Tyrese, partnered by Ricky Macomber Jr. Dragons Blood, a six-year-old Dragon Again-Canaco Model gelding, was a $28,000 claim at Pocono Downs on September 7 and is owned by Anita Micallef of Pompano Beach and Lewis Whitaker of Boynton Beach, Florida.
When racing resumes on Monday evening, November 22, an 11-race agenda is in store featuring the $20,700 purse Florida Sale Stake for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Post time is 7:05 p.m. EST at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
(Pompano Park)