Following a succession of four straight starts of finishing second or third the situation finally worked out just right for Scootin Around to take down a top prize at the Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park on the Wednesday evening, February 3 program
.
With David Ingraham in the bike, the five-year-old Scoot Outa Reach-C The Glory gelding sat last for the first three-quarters of the $12,500 claiming pace. Bully McCool N, with George Napolitano Jr., cut the first fraction in :27.1 and then gave way to MLs Boy, partnered by Andy Santeramo, and they proceeded to cut out the middle stage quarter times :56.3 and 1:25.1.
Going into the final turn, Ingraham tipped Scootin Around three wide from last and by early in the stretch he was past the field. Bully McCool N got out of the pocket to take second and MLs Boy lasted for third.
Scootin Around is trained by Mark Friedman for Polo Stables of Boca Raton, Florida. It was a lifetime best effort for Scootin Around in 1:54 as half of the winners on the mid-week 10-race card earned new speed marks.
Ingraham would share top driver honours on the program with George Napolitano Jr. as each man reined in a pair of winners.
Posts Drawn For $50,000 Bernard Goldstein Memorial
The top 8 Open and Free For All horses presently in training in South Florida will contest the Bernard Goldstein Memorial Pace on Saturday, February 6 at The Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park. The purse is set at $50,000, almost quadruple the usual $13,000 amount for the weekly top class in the 2009-2010 meet in South Florida.
The Bernard Goldstein Memorial will go postward in the fourth race of the 16 race doubleheader Saturday night program convening at 7:05 p.m. EST.
Cammabis, riding a three-race win streak in the weekly Open Pace class, is installed as the 3-1 morning line early choice leaving from Post 4 with Anthony Napolitano named to drive.
McRyan Michael, after stepping to a life's mark and the meet's fastest mile of 1:50.2 last Saturday, is the 7-2 second choice leaving from Post 3 with Joe Pavia Jr. in the bike.
Daley Deposit Only, who suffered a photo finish loss to Cammabis last Saturday, is the 4-1 third choice from Post 5 for Dan Daley.
Preceding the Bernard Goldstein Memorial in Saturday's evening third race is the Mares Open Pace, which this week carries an enhanced purse of $30,000. Track record holder Esmeralda Semalu is the 2-1 early line choice with Joe Pavia Jr. leaving from Post 2. Last week's Mares Open Pace upset winner, Flip For Love with Wally Hennessey, is the 5-2 second choice and has drawn Post 3. Florida Breeders champion Bling has a morning line odds estimate of 7-2 with David Ingraham hired back to drive.
Also on Saturday night, the purse for the Open Trot has been upped to $30,000 from the usual $13,000 weekly amount. Last week's top class winner Andover America, with Bruce Ranger, has drawn Post 2 and has the early favourite's role at 3-1. Trainer Dan Hennessey is sending his pair of top level trotters into battle in this test, as Colies has drawn Post 1 while McCoy has drawn Post 5. Drawing outside in the field of seven starters is 7-2 second choice Tom Cango, with Trevor Ritchie named for bike duty.
The next program at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing is Friday evening, February 5 at 7:05 p.m. EST. Billie Blue Chip, last year's three-year-old filly pace champion of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, will make her four-year-old season's debut in the $10,000 purse Fillies and Mares Open-2 Pace carded as the third race on Friday night.
(Pompano Park)