The FSBOA Stallion Stakes featuring $97,500 in purses were contested on Monday at Pompano Park with three year-olds in the limelight this time around and the top awards went to Gold Star Igotdis, Prairie Gold Mine, Callin On Sunday and Prairie Valentino in their respective classes.
Gold Star Igotdis, handled by Corey Braden, took top honours in her class for pacing fillies with a sharp 1:55.3 win over her main rival, Laurie Lee (Wally Hennessey) with Alil Touch of Pink completing the roster in this $25,000 event.
Gold Star Igotdis, a daughter of Rock On, left the gate with alacrity, as did Laurie Lee, with the former forcing the latter to duck in the pocket through an opening quarter of :28.3. Braden then allowed his filly to amble over to the half in a leisurely :59.1. On the backside, Braden decided to thwart any ideas from her main challenger by picking up the pace with a :28.3 panel and reached the third station in 1:27.4. From there, a :27.4 finale sealed the deal measuring just short of three lengths.
The sent the filly’s scorecard to 4-4-0 in 10 starts, good for $28,531 this season and $57,284 lifetime in only 17 starts.
Prairie Gold Mine showed his determination with a sharp win in his $25,500 event for trotting geldings with a brave 1:59 lifetime best performance for Wally Hennessey over a track labelled “good” while dampened by some heavy rain showers.
The gelded son of Diamond Goal had the outside post in this quartet but easily burst to the front a few long strides out and put up numbers of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:30 before a :29 sprint home left him 2-1/2 lengths clear of Rhinestone Cowboy (Mike Micallef), who looked the leader in the eye turning for home. Prairie Romeo (Corey Braden) finished third over YD Dream Machine.
Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, Fred Morosini and John Spindler, Prairie Gold Mine now has banked $64,920 lifetime in just 14 career starts over two seasons - $22,740 of that this season.
In the $25,000 Stallion Stake for trotting fillies, Callin On Sunday, with Mike Simons in her sulky, cruised around the Pompano Park oval in 2:00 to score a handy 3-3/4 length win over Brasen Bo (John MacDonald) with Prairie Delight third in this trio of trotters.
A daughter of Siibboleth Hanover, Callin On Sunday is trained by George Coblentz for owner Nick Coblentz and kept her 2020 record unblemished with her fourth win. Her lifetime earnings are now $44,696 in just eight career starts.
The $22,000 Stallion Stake for three year-old pacers featured just two geldings with Prairie Valentino, unraced at age two, breaking his maiden in his fourth lifetime start as a sophomore, leading gate-to-wire in 2:03.3 off panels of :30.3, 1:02.4 and 1:33.2 for Dave Ingraham.
Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, the altered son of Royel Millennium earned $14,300 in scoring a 2-3/4 length win over Shuldahadahunemoon (Mike Simons).
Said trainer Deters after the win, “He’s sure come a long way since his first start when he paced in 2:12 and change and was beaten 70 some-odd lengths!”
On the pari-mutuel card, DGs Caviar, handled by Andy Shetler, made a remarkable recovery after a miscue at the opening quarter (:29) to win the $11,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:56.
Fresh off a qualifying win in 1:54 without trotting hobbles, the 7-5 favourite, sans the pants tonight, as well, spotted the leaders several length before regaining his composure and began gnawing away. As Sooo Handsome (Rick Plano) and The Lionking AS (Kevin Wallis) traded places up top, the half was clocked in :58 as DGs Caviar moved into third and then second around the final bend. With three-quarters in 1:26.3 over the track still labelled “good,” The Lionking AS seemed to hold DGs Caviar at bay until the sixteenth pole, when DGs Caviar took charge and edged clear to a 1-3/4 length win.
Also trained by Andy Shetler for Daniel Graber, the four year-old son of Prime Time Caviar scored his third win of the year in 18 starts, good for 2020 bounty of $24,180. The win also created a milestone for the trotter as his career earnings vaulted over the $100,000 mark.
The winning mutuel was $4.80 to his multitude of backers.
Racing continues on Tuesday with fillies and mares in the spotlight in an Open Handicap Pace.
Prairie Westerngal will look to extend her winning streak to three as she leaves from the coveted five post with Wally Hennessey in her sulky for trainer Mike Deters. Listed as the 9-5 morning line favourite, the four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal will try to conquer seven foes, including an Indiana invader Eyespywithmylileyen, who will have John DeLong in the bike.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)