He'd shown signs of brilliance while working his way up the class ladder in November and on the Boxing Day card it all came together again for Mr Tasty to capture the $13,000 Open Handicap Trot at The Isle Pompano Park
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The six-year-old Malabar Man-Keystone Delicious gelding races from the care of Stephane Bardier in the Florida consignment of Ontario based trainer Richard Moreau. After McCoy, with Wally Hennessey, and Battleshoe Victor, driven by Joe Pavia Jr., traded early leads at the front quarter in :27.4, Battleshoe Victor posted the half in :58 and three quarters in 1:27.3 on a cooler 64 degree (18 C.) night in South Florida.
After getting away last in the field of eight, Mr Tasty, with Andy Santeramo in the bike, picked up a second over trip on the cover of Tom Cango, driven in his Florida debut by Matt Kakaley. Heading into the final turn, Mr Tasty swung out three-wide and eventually caught McCoy in late stretch for a 12-1 upset. Andover America, with Bruce Ranger, found room on the pylons to rush up for third while Battleshoe Victor from the assigned outside post had to settle for fourth.
"I saw when the gate swung away he wasn't going to be able to step out of there with them," driver Andy Santeramo said of Mr Tasty. "I was a bit lucky to pick up a great second over trip. [Trainer] Stephane Bardier has done a great job with this horse and I've known he had a lot of ability since he trotted in 1:54.4 here last month."
Richard Moreau has retained sole ownership of Mr Tasty, now a 24-time career winner of over $335,000.
In the $13,000 Open Pace, Vapor In The Wind mustered two big moves to score a narrow decision in 1:52.2. Ricky Macomber, Jr. wheeled the five-year-old Cole Muffler-Pantastic gelding to the front in :27.2 and then rode the pocket behind Sugars Pride, with Bruce Ranger, to the top of the stretch after middle stations of :55.3 and 1:23.2. Vapor In The Wind was up just in time for the pocket trip score with Im In Luck, in rein to Matt Kakaley, rounding out the top three.
"He's back to where he was last year," trainer Dick Macomber said of Vapor In The Wind in a live trackside TV interview after the race. "Since last May we had to shut him down to have him treated for a heart fibrillation disorder. He's back to the top class performer that he was last year," Macomber added.
Vapor In The Wind has now won all three starts since shipping in to Florida. He's won seven of 16 starts this year for Tanah Merah Farms of Springfield, Illinois and the top class win at Pompano on the Boxing Day card pushed his career earnings to just over $151,000.
Live racing resumes on Monday, December 28. This Monday evening's pre-race TV coverage at 6:35 p.m. will feature an interview with driver Kevin Sizer. Post time is 7:05 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
(Pompano Park)