The timing couldn’t be better for a pair of precocious fillies to return to form after bouts of sickness at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
. After wins on the Friday evening, Dec. 3 program in the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) Breeders Stake eliminations the picture is much rosier for three-year-old trotting filly Pocohontas Fame and two-year-old pacing filly Ruby Howard.
“Her trainer, Dan Hennessey, told us ‘Pocohontas’ was a really sick girl and he couldn’t train her up like he wanted to before this elimination,” explained Christine Garrity of the Amante Standardbreds Stable of her filly’s romp in 2:00.4 in the $5,000 elimination event. “This looked like just the kind of trip she needed. It’s the same relief we had when our two-year-old colt trotter Famous Hall recently came back after a bout of sickness to win,” she added.
Driver Wally Hennessey eased Pocohontas Fame into fourth position in the opening half of 1:00.3 posted by Shes A Winner, in rein to Chuck Connor Jr. Turning into the backstretch for the final time, Hennessey pulled his charge three-wide to the lead and she was on cruise control the rest of the way.
“It was intentional that Wally kept her off the gate tonight because we weren’t sure if she’d be short and we didn’t want her cutting the mile,” co-owner Tony Amante said. “Last year she made a break at the top of the stretch in the FSBOA final as a two-year-old but she still roared home to win. We’d love that same result in the December 11 Super Night final but we hope it’s without quite as much drama,” he added.
In the other Florida Breeders Stake elimination for three-year-old filly trotters, Famous Monster was a rock solid winner in 1:59.4. Since a recent private purchase and barn change, Famous Monster has won both starts in the care of trainer Jodi Bendick for DCLD Stables Inc. of New York.
Two-year-old pacing filly Ruby Howard is another filly in the category of returning to form after sickness. She won her Florida Breeders Stake elimination in 1:59.2. Driver Bruce Ranger had the daughter of Mannart Howard-Amethyst kicking home in :28.3 from a pocket trip to hold off the hard closing Sandy C, in rein to Brian Sears, and the fraction-setter Her Request, in rein to Dan Clements.
“She’s getting close to the form she showed us in October when we started out with her in the Sunshine State Stakes here,” said co-owner and trainer Rod Lorenzo. “We were able to get only one start into her in November because she was set back with being sick. This filly is important to me and her co-owner Souren Hovsepian of Palm Beach because her dam, Amethyst, was a champion here and she passed away this year,” Lorenzo added.
Ruby Howard will need to be at the top of her game for the Super Final night match-up with Gold Star Glitter on Dec. 11. In her Florida Breeders Stake elimination, Gold Star Glitter was a flawless front-end winner, in rein to Dan Clements, in 1:56.3. Gold Star Glitter, a daughter of Squaws Fella-Squisita, is owned and trained by her breeder, Tom Audley of Bell, Florida. Youtorturemefern, driven by Gaston Lareau, was in futile pursuit of Gold Star Glitter at the finish as was third place finisher Keep On Cookin with Rick Schaut in the bike.
The Florida Breeders Stake eliminations for two and three-year-old colts and geldings will be staged on the Saturday evening, Dec. 4 program. There’s a carryover of $1,203 into the Pick-4 wagering pool on Saturday night at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
As of Monday, Dec. 6, through May 31, 2011 a new schedule for live harness racing is in effect at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Live action will turn to the gate every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. EST.
Later this month the exception to that schedule is the addition of a live card on Thursday, Dec. 23 and no live race program on Saturday, Dec. 25.
(Pompano Park)