Only a half dozen starters have gone to the starting gate at Pompano Park from his stable but the message is already clear: horses from the Alex Kavoleff barn have arrived ready to roll
from Chester Downs and Pocono Downs. Kavoleff returns to a winter base in Florida after a one year absence
The Kavoleff barn picked up a win with a third straight starter at Pompano in the Monday evening Mares Open Handicap Pace feature for a $12,000 purse as Runaway Tray found a late lane in the stretch to score in a life's record time of 1:51.4. That followed last Saturday night's sweep by both Kavoleff stable starters, Literate Hanover and Night Train Shane. All told through Monday evening, Alex Kavoleff has sent out six starters thus far with three winners and a second-place finisher to his credit.
Setting all the pace was Ed Hensley's Keep On Flirtin in :26.3, :55, and 1:22.4 as she showed no lingering effects from a fall she suffered in her previous start in the top mares class on November 28. Keep On Flirtin held off the first over move of Six Mile Annie in rein to Ricky Macomber and she out stepped the second over trip rival, Special Sweetheart with Bruce Ranger in tow, but Keep On Flirtin had to settle for the runner-up spot when Runaway Tray came through on the pylons in the final eighth of the mile.
It was the sixth win in 35 starts this year for the Blissful Hall-Traker Dream five year old mare as she increased her 2011 earnings to $95,275 and lifetime haul to $188,767. The first five straight winners on the Monday evening program in a wide range of classes took lifetime speed marks, including trotter Nobell Prize (1:55.4) and $5,000 claiming pacer Mcjagger (1:54).
One of the season's most anticipated match-ups is set for the Wednesday evening program. Trotting mare Mymomsablizzard, already a 1:54.3 winner at the meet in a mile which came within one-fifth of a second of a track record, will face Florida's top current male trotter, Keystone Thomas, in the mid-week feature event. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday cards have a guaranteed $5,000 Pick-4 pool as part of the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.
(Pompano Park)