The script couldn't have been written better for the supremely patient horseman Dan Daley to capture the $50,000 Bernard Goldstein Memorial Invitational Pace on Saturday, February 6, at the Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park
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From the split second the gate swung away on the breezy 68 degree (20 C.) night in South Florida, it was apparent the eight horse field comprised of the best pacers at the current meet were going to put on a hotly contested show. Sugars Pride, with Wally Hennessey in tow, swept over to the lead from the outside post to post the front quarter of :26.1. That left one of the favourites, Cammabis with Anthony Napolitano, parked out for the opening three-eighths before they finally cleared and posted a half in :55.1.
In the backstretch, Four Starz Bling with George Napolitano Jr. fired to the front just before the third marker in 1:22.3, with Vapor In The Wind and Ricky Macomber Jr. tracking the cover. Into the stretch, Daley Deposit Only swept up widest of all after sitting seventh in the earlier stages to win with daylight to spare in 1:51.3. Four Starz Bling clung to second while Vapor In The Wind stayed for third.
"I knew they were going a lot up front but have to admit I wondered if I could reach them when sitting fourth over," trainer and driver Dan Daley explained in his live post-race trackside TV interview. "Plus, we had to tip three-wide a little earlier than I really wanted to. He's just a nice Open class horse that fired at the right time tonight. He makes us money but he can't withstand many tough trips like that in a row."
The Artiscape-Sassy Cessiann five-year-old gelding is owned by Ann-Mari and Jared Daley along with Richard Lombardo and Robert Pergament. It was the 15th career win for the former Breeders Crown starter in his two-year-old campaign, and this win increased his career bankroll to more than $163,000.
There were also a pair of $30,000 purse undercard top class races on the Bernard Goldstein Memorial card at the Isle.
In the Fillies and Mares Open Pace, former Florida Breeders champion Bling with David Ingraham in the bike rode a pocket trip behind Esmeralda Semalu with her usual pilot Joe Pavia Jr. 'Esmeralda' set controlling fractions of :27, :56.4, and 1:24.2 and the two frequent rivals were set down for a stretch long bitter duel to the end. Bling got the nod in the photo as the wire arrived in 1:53.1 over Esmeralda Semalu, with Flip For Love and Wally Hennessey safely back in third.
"It was another great effort for her but Bling will stay in Florida, she won't be shipping up north to race," trainer Mark Friedman said after the latest conquest by the four-year-old daughter of Scoot Outa Reach-C The Glory owned by Polo Stables of Boca Raton. "She was bred here, she races here, she lives here, so she'll stay here," he added of the career winner of over $123,000.
In the Open Trot, even money favourite Andover America was placed up to first after a stretch violation saw Mr Tasty finish first in 1:56.3 but placed back to fifth for bearing into the paths of Talk About Me and Gale Warning. "I'm not usually this lucky to be placed up for the win," said driver Bruce Ranger. "Andover America is in a time of high confidence right now and with this horse so much of it is mental. Not that long ago we were ready to quit with him altogether. He got a mark [1:55.1] last week and he's not the type to take a lot of weeks in a row of hard trips like this where he does a lot of the work", Ranger added of the Andover Hall-Armbro Array five-year-old gelding owned by Mc Trade Enterprises of Davie, Florida.
Andover America thus increased his career earnings to over $152,000. Because Mr Tasty was placed back to fifth, Talk About Me and Anthony Napolitano was placed up to second and McCoy, in rein to George Napolitano Jr., was placed up to third.
Live racing resumes at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing on Monday, February 8 at 7:05 p.m. The next special event on the track's calendar is less than two weeks away with the Roosevelt Raceway Reunion celebrations on the February 20 and 21 weekend. Over a dozen noted horseman including Lucien Fontaine, Mike Lachance, Bill Popfinger, Carmine Abbatiello, Ted Wing and Ed Lohmeyer have confirmed their attendance.
(Pompano Park)