Just before shipping back to Florida in November, trainer Stan Whittemore of Ripley, Maine went shopping in Ontario, and based on the early returns it looks he's glad he did. What's interesting is that his pair of Pompano starters to date were purchased from the far eastern and western extremes of the Canadian province
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Whittemore negotiated a private purchase of Tymal Headliner from Stephanie and Brian Cassell of Gloucester, Ont., who had purchased the pacer for $3,700 in the Standardbred Canada Summer Sizzler Sale last August. In his second start in Florida on the November 30 program, the three-year-old Modern Art-Secret Deal gelding was dropped a class and entered for a $7,500 claiming tag. He went a robust two-move trip as the race favourite with David Ingraham in the bike, only to be caught at the wire by 11-1 upsetter Gimme Some Money, in rein to Kyle Aylor. Prior to the 1,600 mile shipping trek to Florida, Tymal Headliner had been racing at Rideau Carleton Raceway from the Robbie Robinson barn.
Whittemore's other Ontario purchase, trotter Sonny McDreamee, was found at the other end of Ontario at Windsor Raceway and he won his Florida debut on Nov. 23 in a $4,000 purse conditioned test at a shocking 23-1 in 1:57.1 with Bruce Ranger in the bike. Sonny McDreamee, a six-year-old Angus Hall-I Am Worthy Too gelding and Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series winner in his three-year-old campaign, was bought by private treaty from owner and breeder Dr. Joey Johnston of Oldcastle, Ont. On the November 30 program, Sonny McDreamee made his second start at Pompano and overcame Post 9 for a solid runner-up finish when in a for a $10,000 claiming tag.
The feature event on the final program of November saw driver David Ingraham at his crafty best to weave through stretch traffic after a pocket trip for an 8-1 upset in the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Trot with Jaavos Boy.
Aruba Vacation was tested on the front end by Fern Paquet Jr. in :27.3, :56.3 and 1:26 to put away the first over move of Thro Time, driven by Andy Santeramo. Lurking second and third over were race favourites Smokin Dabra, with Mike Micallef in tow, and Keystone Thomas, in rein to Bruce Ranger. Late in the stretch, Smokin Dabra and Keystone Thomas surged to the front, but Ingraham stick-handled through late with his charge to stop the clock in 1:56.1.
It was the fifth win in 29 trips this year for Jaavos Boy, a five-year-old SJs Photo-Hayworth Hanover gelding owned by Probber Morse Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was the first starter sent out by trainer Barry Probber since shipping back from Pocono Downs to his winter base at Pompano.
The trainer-driver team of Probber and Ingraham racked up a second victory later on the card with $8,000 claiming trotter Speedy Samadhi in a dominant front end score in 1:57. The Pine Chip-Pure Confection 10-year-old gelding competes for Unity Stable of Staten Island, New York and this occasion toppled Stars And Sites, driven by Jason Dillander, and Rising Tower, with Fern Paquet Jr. in tow.
Also returning to their winter base at Pompano and seeing their first action of the meet on the November 30 card were drivers Ricky Macomber Jr. and Mark O'Mara.
Because of a 47-1 upset by trotter Wesleys Fortune in Wednesday's seventh race, there's a Pick 4 carryover of $4,441 into Saturday evening's program, and Racing Operations Director John Yinger has authorized a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool for the December 3 program. That's in addition to the nightly MEGA 9 offering a $5,000 minimum pool if a single winning ticket emerges from the base 10 cent wager.
Post time moves to 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing as of this Saturday, December 3.
Simulcasting from Gulfstream Park will be picked up daily starting at 3 p.m. at Pompano commencing with the start of the Gulfstream season, also on Saturday.
(Pompano Park)