Wednesday night's $12,000 Open Handicap Trot at Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park featured a thrilling stretch drive with five horses within three-quarters of a length strung out across the track at the finish.
Prairie Big John (Tom Sells) pushed a head in front of Wesleys Fortune (Rob Hoffman) to record his second straight triumph in the weekly top trot. Andover America (Bruce Ranger) returned from Canada after banking $154,460 north of the border in 2012 and was made the betting favourite at 4-5 from an assigned outside post in the full field, but finished another head back in third after cutting the early fractions. Spring Goal (Rick Plano) was also just a neck behind at the wire while My Revenuer (Stephane Lareau) earned the final fifth place check, but beaten only three-quarters of a length.
Laurie Poulin and Fred Morosini partner with trainer Mike Deters on Prairie Big John, a four-year-old Florida-bred who now sports seven wins and seven place finishes in 26 seasonal starts.
Driver Rick Plano kept his hot hand going since returning to Pompano by scoring a hat trick on the 10-race program. Recent returnee Jason Dillander fashioned a driving double as did veteran Tom Sells.
Racing will resume at Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park on Saturday night with a 7:05 p.m. eastern post time. The regular four-nights-a-week schedule also includes live programs every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. In two weeks the track will join the USTA strategic wagering platform to guarantee a $5000 Pick 4 pool on each weekday program.
(Pompano Park)