The FSBOA-sponsored stakes honouring the memory of two giants of Florida – Dr. Melvyn Aylor and Tom Audley – were held on Sunday night (Nov. 24).
The highlight of the evening was the grand filly Natasha extending her winning streak to 14, ironically achieved over the past 14 months, in the Audley Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The splendid three-year-old daughter of Sox Of Diamonds overcame her toughest competition to date. She was bothered early on in the race and overcame Post 9 to defeat a very game Prairie Cougar in 1:54.3 for driver Wally Hennessey, owner Jay Sears and trainer Kim Sears.
At the outset, Natasha, who is usually ‘early-footed,’ was forced to avoid early confusion (a couple of ‘breakers’). Prairie Westerngal cut the opening quarter in :27.2. Post 8 starter Prairie Cougar went on to take command later in the second quarter and rolled to the half in :57.2. On the backside, Natasha began gnawing away from five lengths away and hooked up with Prairie Westerngal, as both reached the third station in 1:26.2. From there, it was a fight to the finish with neither willing to give an inch until Natasha earned the photo-finish nod.
After the event, Hennessey remarked, "this was not an easy trip for her. She had to overcome lots of situations and she, again, proved her merit. She is some filly."
Natasha is now 6-for-6 this year and sports a 16-14-0-1 scorecard with the win nudging her over the $100,000 mark in career earnings. Off as second choice in the betting at 3 to 2, Natasha paid $5.00 to win.
Recaps of other Sunday stakes races at Pompano appear below.
AUDLEY MEMORIAL - THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE
Mr Marvalous, last year's two -year-old champion, earned his first win of the year in five starts by taking top honours in the Audley for sophomore pacing colts and geldings.
The altered son of Delmarvalous, trained by Kim Sears for Jay Sears and Richard Dunmire, received picture-perfect handling by Wally Hennessey to score in a lifetime best 1:54.4 over the fast closing JBs Boomerang (Bryce Fenn). Zaza Boy (Mike Micallef) was third followed by Gold Star Yoder and Gold Star Hefner.
The winner, away with his usual alacrity, yielded to Zaza Boy early, letting the latter post all the panels of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:26.4 before finding a seam turning for home and mowing down the leader by mid-stretch and then handily holding off the ‘Boomerang’ in deep stretch.
Mr Marvalous is now 8-for-17 lifetime with earnings of $58,502. He paid $5.00 to win as second choice in the betting.
AUDLEY MEMORIA - THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT
It was a ‘stroll in the park’ – Pompano Park – for Damien Hall, as the three-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall coasted through fractions of :30.1, :59.4 and 1:29.4 before an effortless :30.3 finale left him 23 lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Savin Park, with John Campagnuolo in the bike. Prairie Gem (Mike Deters) finished third after having suffered some miscues through the mile.
Trained by Jim McDonald for the Pacing Pretty Stable, Damien Hall kept his 2019 record unscathed in recording his fifth consecutive victory, which sent his bankroll career-wise to $27,651.
AUDLEY MEMORIA - THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
Proud Sophie, with Dave Ingraham driving, annihilated her former race record of 2:02.4 with a 1:58.1 win for owners Jay Sears and Dr. David Fishman.
The Kim Sears trainee defeated Kerry B (Wally Hennessey) with pacesetting Crown Bushy (Bryce Fenn) third.
Proud Sophie, a daughter of Proud Bushy, got away in good order and found the garden spot early as Crown Bushy put up lively numbers of :28.3 and :58.4. Three eighths from home, Proud Sophie zipped to the lead and went by the third station in 1:28 as Kerry B took up the chase.
In the lane, Proud Sophie and Kerry B went to war, and the latter gnawed away, but fell just a bit shy at the wire.
The lightly-raced Proud Sophie now has now recorded six wins and five seconds from 11 career starts with earnings of $84,128.
AYLOR MEMORIAL - TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE
Laurie Lee, trained by Kim Sears for husband Jay and Richard Dunmire, scorched the Pompano Park oval in a lifetime best 1:56.3, which reduced her former mark by more than two seconds.
Wally Hennessey was in the juvenile's sulky as she led every long stride of her journey. She carded panels of :29, :58.4 and 1:27.2 along the way.
Pocahontas Cam (Kevin Wallis) finished second after having enjoyed a trip in the garden spot all the way, while Prairie Fashion (Dave Ingraham) was next. Gold Star Igotdis and Alil Touch of Pink completed the field.
The daughter of Royal Millennium took home the major share of the $15,000 purse, which sent her earnings to $23,725 from eight starts.
AYLOR MEMORIAL - TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT
Rhinestone Cowboy, with Mike Micallef in the sulky, took top honours in the Aylor Memorial two-year-old colt/gelding trot with a maiden win in 2:02.2.
Trained by Kim Sears for Jay Sears and John Campagnuolo, Rhinestone Cowboy was perfectly mannered in his conquest of the previously undefeated Prairie Gold Mine (Wally Hennessey) and Prairie Romeo (Dave Ingraham). YD Dream Machine and Prairie Tornado completed the order of finish.
A son of Proud Bushy, Rhinestone Cowboy earned his maiden win after several attempts chasing Prairie Gold Mine.
In a post-race interview, the clever Micallef began with a riddle of his own, "what's the difference between the letters 'n' and 't?' Answer: maNNers, maTTers! And that was the difference today. My colt kept his cool and kept his mind on the business of trotting while the others suffered some mishaps along the way.
"He's got talent and rarely makes a break and that's very beneficial in these two-year-old events."
The maiden win sent the Cowboy's earnings to $18,454.
AYLOR MEMORIAL - TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
Prairie Delight avenged her only loss by out-gaming the pacesetter Callin On Sunday by a head in a lifetime-best 2:03.3. Wally Hennessey was subbing in the bike for trainer Jim McDonald and, for the initial time in six starts, was reserved off the early pace as Callin On Sunday (Mike Simons) out up the number of :30.2, 1:01.4 and 1:32.1 before Prairie Delight wore down the leader right at the wire.
Brasen Bo (Mickey McNichol) finished third while Whitney Annette finished fourth in the four-horse tilt.
A daughter of Shibboleth Hanover, Prairie Delight is owned by trainer McDonald along with wife, Dona, and Bill Bigler.
The win vaulted Prairie Delight's earnings over the $27,000 mark in her six starts.
AYLOR MEMORIAL - TWO -YEAR-OLD COLT/EGLDING PACE
Hurrikanekingjames, driven by Carl Garofalo, had all he could handle in scoring his fifth consecutive win in Florida stakes company with a hard-earned 1:54.4 lifetime mark victory over a stubborn Repeal Or Replace (Andy Santeramo). Shuldahadahunemoon (Mike Simons) completed the order.
Hurrikanekingjames, a son of So Surreal, let Repeal and Replace do all the heavy lifting while putting up numbers of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before hooking up with him in a memorable duel throughout the entire stretch.
In keeping his fall driving record perfect at 5-for-5, Garofalo said, "It sure wasn't a cakewalk--that's for sure. Andy's (Santeramo) horse (Repeal Or Replace) gave my horse all he could handle."
With the win, Hurrikanekingjames earnings moved to $74,152 to go along with his new lifetime mark.
Combining his three Sunday night stakes wins, Hennessey wound up with seven wins for the night--four more on the betting card.
Racing continues on Monday night with the Super Hi-5 Jackpot now standing $20,237.13.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park / FSBOA)