The great run of luck for trainer Tom Artandi continued on the Friday evening, December 4 program at The Isle Pompano Park. He's returned to the winner's circle with all four starters he's sent out so far this meet in South Florida
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Artandi pupil Special Sweetheart, on the tail end of a three-year-old season that saw her amass over $500,000 in 2009 earnings by competing in the continent's major stakes for her division, romped again Friday night in the $13,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace. This week, Andy Santeramo was in the bike behind the Western Ideal-Ladys Special Girl filly to control the pace over six older rivals in 1:53. Last week, Special Sweetheart set the track record for her division in 1:52.1, which eclipsed the mark set 18 years ago by Miss Easy.
Alice Springs with Bruce Ranger in tow and Chapsboots N Spurs with Wally Hennessey gave futile chase to Special Sweetheart down the stretch as Santeramo offered only minimal late urging to secure the comfortable win. This victory pushed her career earnings to more than $670,000 for the 4 For 3 Stable of New York.
In the Friday night co-featured $13,000 Open Handicap Trot, Battleshoe Victor was a strong front-end winner in 1:55.2 with Bruce Ranger in the bike. Tom Harmer trains the seven-year-old Valley Victor-B Crysta gelding for owner Michael Polansky. Gale Warning with Tom Sells and Colies partnered by Wally Hennessey were next under the wire. It was the 36th career win for Battleshoe Victor as his life's earnings surpassed $350,000.
An eye-catching performance was turned in by trotter McCoy on the Friday night card. The Yankee McCoy-Celebrity Connie five-year-old gelding blasted to the front in the third quarter and roared away to victory over a $9,500 purse conditioned group in a life's mark clocking of 1:55.1. Dan Hennessey trains McCoy for owner John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, Florida and this solid win over Kid Conway and Party Lad was part of a driving triple on the Friday night card for Wally Hennessey.
Fred Cohen was the leading trainer on the program with a pair of winners including claiming pacer Legacy Franco N and claiming trotter Power Drive.
One of the biggest nights of the year at The Isle Pompano Park is set for Saturday evening, December 5 for the annual Florida Super Night. Over $330,000 in purses is offered this year to the top State bred two and three-year-olds over eight events. It's also the unveiling of the track's doubleheader Saturday night performances, with post time for the Florida Breeders' Stakes at 7:05 p.m. followed by a second eight race card at 9:45 p.m. In addition to free programs for on-track patrons, The Isle Pompano Park will also have a trackside barbecue, deejay, and interactive winner's circle contests and giveaways during the Saturday night doubleheader cards.
(Pompano Park)