The Melvyn Aylor Memorial for Florida-bred two-year-olds was contested at Pompano Park on Saturday night with Tough Issue, Geronimo Fame, Gold Star Jessica and Markie taking the top prize in their respective divisions.
Tough Issue, driven by Bruce Ranger, took the $18,400 non-betting opener for the pacing colts and geldings in a lifetime-best 1:56.2, knocking almost three seconds off his previous best winning time.
Trained by Mike Deters for Brenda Komers and the Verderame Stable, Tough Issue, a gelded son of Tough Sir, took the lead immediately in his trio and clocked an opening panel in a sharp :27.2, thwarting any early challengers, before reaching the half in :57. Heading into the final turn, Warlock (Wally Hennessey) left the pocket and began his bid, which brought him alongside the leader turning for home...but a costly miscue at that point left him a baker's dozen lengths behind at the wire. Goldstar Kenny P (Mickey McNichol) was prominent early, but finished well back -- 29-1/2 lengths -- at the end of the mile.
For Tough Issue, it was a bit of revenge after having finished second to his chief nemesis -- Warlock -- in three of his last four starts. His score card now reads 4-3-1 in 11 starts, good for earnings of $25,565 heading into Super Night next Saturday.
In the $19,050 juvenile event for the trotting colts and geldings, Geronimo Fame, handled by Bruce Ranger for Amante Standardbreds, wore down a stubborn Gator On Patrol (Tom Sells) in deep stretch to score a half-length triumph in a lifetime-best 2:01.3.
Midnight Michael (Rob Hoffman) and Showing Off (Wally Hennessey) both made early miscues and were never in the hunt in the quartet.
The "Famously" bred colt (yes, he is by Famously), was away in good order from his outside four post and let Gator On Patrol carve out panels of :31.3, 1:01.4 and 1:31.4 before using his :29.2 finale to earn his third lifetime win in eight starts. He's banked a tad over $21,000 thus far.
The two-year-old filly events were contested on the pari-mutuel card with Gold Star Jessica and Markie taking the top prizes.
Gold Star Jessica, a daughter of Rock On, took the $21,300 pace for Kevin Wallis, breaking her maiden with a splendid 1:55.4 three length win over Heather (Wally Hennessey) with J D Eleven Bells (Rick Plano) next. Voluminous and Sandalonia picked up the final two awards in the field of nine.
Owned and trained by Tom Audley, Gold Star Jessica left alertly before allowing Heather to take the lead at the quarter timed in :28. The latter was forced to carve subsequent panels of :56.3 and 1:26.3 as Voluminous kept the pressure on throughout.
Turning for home, Jessica found some room and easily romped by the leader and drew off at the end of the mile.
The win was worth $10,650 to owner Audley -- pushing the filly's 2013 bounty to $14,735 -- and $10.20 to those who had a $2 ticket on the tote's fourth choice on the board.
In a post race interview, Wallis kept it short and sweet. "We had a great trip...and it was a great time for her to break her maiden!"
In the filly trot, Markie, driven by Wally Hennessey for trainer Kim Sears and owner-husband Jay Sears, used a :29.3 finale to wear down the pacesetting Trotting J C Poss and prevail by one and a quarter lengths.
This daughter of Proud Bushy, starting from the outside seven post, avoided trouble leaving and settled into third early as Trotting J C Poss and Famous Halle were one-two through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.4 and 1:31.3. Less than three-eighths out, Hennessey left the pocket and began to wear down the leaders, collaring Trotting J C Poss a sixteenth out and drawing clear late.
Gold Star Ginger and Blame Bushy picked up minor awards in the septet.
Garnering her sixth win of the year in 10 starts, Markie sent her 2013 earnings to $30,100.
As the 8-5 choice on the board, she paid $5.20 to win.
In Open action, Thebestofjoel, owned, trained and driven by Ed Hensley, grabbed command of the racetrack from his first stride out of the gate and wired together panels of :27.2, :28.2, :27.2 and :27.2 to score in a brilliant 1:50.3. His margin of victory over Northern Companion (Rob Hoffman) was one and three-quarter lengths with Cruizin K C (Mark O'Mara) third. Yankees In Six finished fourth while Rocknroll Special picked up the "nickel."
For this five-year-old son of Cammibest, it was his fourth win of the year, pushing his seasonal bounty to $57,262 and lifetime earnings to $206,107.
"This horse is very adaptable," said Hensley after the race. "He can race anyway, and when I didn't see too much throttling early, I decided to give it a go. I was kind of surprised that he was up to this kind of effort because he'd been off a couple of weeks...but he just kept on going!"
Finally, the Florida Amateur Driver's Club made a sizable donation to Club 101, an organization that helps the needy in numerous ways. After Joe Pennacchio won the Amateur event with JP Houle Stables' Miss Janine, Bruce Ranger and Dein Spriggs joined many of the amateur drivers in the winner's circle to help make the presentation. The Club is expected to feed more than 300 people over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Florida Amateur Drivers Club has donated over $125,000 to charitable causes over their existence.
(With files from Pompano Park)