There are tough tasks in harness race handicapping, and this one looks impossible. There's no logical way to choose a favourite for the 2011 Isle Of Capri Drivers' Championship to be decided over the March 14, 15 and 16 programs at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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On statistics alone, perhaps Bruce Ranger would stand out in the nine-man field on the basis of over 8,000 lifetime winning drives and the fact that he's amassed over 75 per cent of those career wins at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. In typical Ranger fashion, he will only offer words of respect for the eight drivers he'll face in the contest.
"Every one of us will be motivated by that top prize of $8,000, there's no disputing that," said Ranger. "Then there's the pride thing when you want to show your best out there when you're racing against the best. Even with the draws now complete I'm stumped on trying to find a favourite to win it. We've all drawn some decent horses with good post positions and an equal share of longshots. The design of the contest is great and I'm really looking forward to it," Ranger added.
"I've been in a drivers' contest like this before and what it comes down to is a great cast of guys that won't make any serious mistakes," offered Dan Clements. "It's going to come down to the horses we draw and the trips we can work out" he added.
Joining Ranger and Clements to contest the $17,500 prize money are Joe Pavia Jr., Ricky Macomber Jr., Mike Micallef, Wally Hennessey, David Ingraham, George Napolitano Jr. and Anthony Napolitano. Three races of the Championship will be staged on each of the March 14 and 15 programs, and the last four races to decide the winner will comprise the Pick-4 wager with a $5,000 guaranteed pool on the March 16 card.
Sports Fanatic Upsets In Saturday Night Feature
A new winner emerged in the weekly top pacing class in South Florida on the March 12 program.
Sports Fanatic got a well rated first over trip from driver George Napolitano Jr. to catch B N Bad, in rein to Joe Pavia Jr., in 1:52 in the $14,000 purse event.
B N Bad surged to the early lead in :27.3 and was used in the second quarter to re-take the front in :55 seconds. Sports Fanatic emerged from the pack to edge up on the outside to the final turn in 1:23.3, and the seven-year-old Sportsmaster-Broadway Final Act gelding finally edged by in late stretch to stop the clock in 1:52.
Bruce Pacitti co-owns and trains Sports Fanatic, and shares ownership with O'Toole Stable of Batavia, Illinois.
Dragons Blood, with Mike Micallef in tow, brushed in for the show position.
(Pompano Park)