With two classes of the FSBOA Stallion Stakes highlighting the Wednesday (November 5) card at Pompano Park, Gold Star Dynasty was in the ‘limelight’ after a lifetime-best performance in the two-year-old filly pace, while the filly Limelight was creating a ‘dynasty’ of her own in winning the distaff event for pacing sophomores.
Gold Star Dynasty, the splendid Six Of Diamonds filly owned and trained by Tom Audley (and family), pushed her lifetime earnings to $22,262 in just five starts with a very sharp wire-to-wire win in the $26,000 Stallion Stakes for Wally Ross Jr.
Taking the lead at the outset from Post 6, Ross rated the filly to perfection and clocked fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:29 before sending the lass sprinting home in :27.4. She stopped the clock in 1:56.3, annihilating her previous mark by three full seconds.
The highly regarded Paxxie, handled by Bruce Ranger, was second, six and a half lengths away, while Davita and Bob Roberts teamed up for the show honours. Arties Diamond Gal was fourth and Creamsicle finished fifth.
After the race, driver Ross said, “this filly likes to be in the thick of things from the get-go… not necessarily on top, but close. Tonight, I thought it best to get her into it early from the outside. She really seemed to relish being on the lead the entire route tonight. I was just a passenger.”
Gold Star Dynasty, who was even money on the toteboard, was the second post-time choice in the wagering – Paxxie was 4-5 – and paid $4.20 to her faithful.
In the $28,500 Stallion Stakes for the three-year-old fillies, Beauty In The Bridle Stable’s Limelight, deftly handled by Tom Sells, made a quarter-pole move to the top, and, after the :28.3 opening quarter, clocked subsequent panels of :58 and 1:27 before turning on her after-burners. The filly strode home in :28.3 to stop the timer in 1:55.3. Her margin of victory was one and a quarter lengths over Marion, who was driven by Matt Romano.
Limelight has created somewhat of a ‘dynasty’ in her own right, having swept her four legs of the FSBOA-sponsored Sunshine State Stakes to go along with her victory Wednesday.
Voluminous, handled by Bruce Ranger, finished third. ICU Charlie T finished fourth and Gold Star Jessica finished fifth in the field of nine.
After the race, driver Tom Sells related, “she’s a very nice filly…very handy. She is very well mannered and proved that tonight when there was a recall that kept all of ‘em on the track for several extra minutes. I made that quarter move to stay out of trouble and she did the rest…all on her own.”
Trained by Rosie Huff, Limelight won for the seventh time in 11 starts this year, good for $41,145. She’s banked $56,274 lifetime. Favoured at 1-2 on the board, Limelight paid $3.00 to win.
Finally, Andover America, the still splendid nine-year-old son of Andover Hall, won for the fourth consecutive time in Pompano Park’s $10,000 top Open trotting event for Bruce Ranger.
Owned by McTrade Enterprises, Andover America led at every marker. He clocked panels of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4 before sprinting home in :28.3 to score a rather handy victory measuring one and three-quarter lengths in 1:55.2.
Count Speed, who was in the garden spot for Wally Hennessey the entire route, finished second. Baby Boy Grin finished third for driver Kevin Wallis. The Kept Man and Majestic Won picked up the final two cheques, respectively, in the seven-horse contest.
In a post-race interview, Ranger said, “you know, I keep saying that ‘Andover’ may be a step slower than when he was last season – age does that, you know – but he sprinted out of the gate like a youngster tonight…and all on his own. I thought a quick opening quarter like that (:27.4) might leave him a little wanting at the end, but he really felt like he wanted to go on and on.”
For Andover America, it was his seventh triumph of the year, sending his seasonal earnings to $45,650. He has now banked $785,890 in his career on the strength of a 57-32-18 scorecard in 152 lifetime starts.
Despite coming into the action with the winning streak, Andover America was allowed to go off at 3-1 and returned $8.20 to win as the second choice.
(Pompano)