When the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) 2010 Super Night is staged on December 11, the best of the eight finals could well be the battle looming in the two-year-old colt and gelding pace division. Close to $400,000 in purses
goes on the line for the annual gala next Saturday at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
The speculation about a pitched battle in the two-year-old pacing colt and gelding division was raised to the highest level following a pair of Florida Breeders Stake eliminations on the Saturday evening, December 4 program.
Full Of Sand and Creating A Dream were supremely impressive in their elimination wins.
“He wasn’t pressured again tonight so really we don’t know yet where the bottom to him may be,” driver Mike Micallef said after Full Of Sand romped home in 1:56.2 on the 68 degree evening. “What impresses me the most about him is his maturity, manners and his ability to relax. Tonight I was at the half in :59.2 and he was waiting on me through a third quarter in :28.4 and the final quarter in :28.1. From Post 1 tonight I had to be out front, but believe it or not I think his best game is actually racing from off the pace. It’s a great set of options to have going into next week’s final and it takes a bit of the anxiety out of the post position draw luck,” Micallef added.
Jake Huff trains Full Of Sand, a two-year-old colt by Full Of Fun-Soft Towel for White Creek Stable of Boynton Beach, Florida. Following next under the wire were Stevie Rays Dream, in rein to Wally Hennessey, and Diamond Star, partnered by Brian Sears.
In the other FSBOA Breeders Stake elimination, Creating A Dream was tilted out first over just past the half in :58.4 to wear down the pacemaking Alabama Howard, driven by Bruce Range. Palm Beach Boy, with Brian Sears in the bike, was under restraint and a close-up second at the finish, while Alabama Howard persisted for third. The final time flashed up in 1:56.3 for Creating A Dream, a two-year-old gelding by Macadream-Diamondsfrmichelle that is trained and co-owned by his breeder, Michelle Hallett of Margate, Florida. An ownership share of Creating A Dream is also held by Michelle Oglesby of Texas, and the promising freshman has won half of his 10 starts this year heading into the Super Final night test.
The December 4 program also saw the fastest mile of the meet go into the record books since racing began on October 16. Four Starz Bling, a Blissful Hall-Carrietown eight-year-old gelding, stopped the clock in 1:51.3 in the $12,000 winners over $10,000 lifetime feature pace. Bruce Ranger was in the bike for the Tom Harmer student, racing for New Jenneration LLC of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It was the 35th career win for the $415,000 career winner as he was well clear of Daley Deposit Only (Dan Daley) and Dragons Blood (Mike Micallef) after cutting all the fractions in :27, :55.2, and 1:23.3 before his closing panel of :28-seconds.
The Monday evening, December 6 card kicks off a new schedule segment through May 31, 2011. Live cards will turn to the gate at 7:05 p.m. EST each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. The only variation is the addition of a live program on Thursday, December 23 with no live program on Saturday, December 25.
(Pompano Park)