As expected the action was intense and it's no surprise there's a logjam at the top after the opening round of the 2011 Isle of Capri Drivers' Championship
at Pompano Park.
Drawing first blood in the contest was Wally Hennessey as he guided conditioned race trotter Vitamight to a dominant front end win in 1:56.1 for trainer Odell Thompson and owner Henry Solomon of Sunrise, FL.
"I think it will take at least two wins, and possible three, over the course of the ten races to take the top prize," said Hennessey. "It's great when you draw a class-dropping horse like I had here with Vitamight, but equally as important in a competition like this is what you do with longshots and horses that don't look that great on paper. Getting points with that kind is what really can swing things in your favour".
In the second race of the Championship, George Napolitano, Jr. used a cone-skimming trip and survived a stretch drive inquiry to win with claiming pacer Single Best for trainer Sandy Hollon and owner Heddy Nelson of Tamarac, FL. The Riley Factor, in rein to Joe Pavia, Jr., made all the pace and had to settle for second, while Albion with Wally Hennessey closed in for third.
The third and final race on the opening night segment of the Championship saw Joe Pavia, Jr. vault up the standings by guiding trotter Wins For Fun to a 1:58 life's mark performance for trainer Odell Thompson and owner Scott McGee of West Gardiner, ME.
The complete standings after round one of the 2011 Isle of Capri Drivers' Championship:
1st - Wally Hennessey - 18 points
2nd - Joe Pavia, Jr. - 17 points
3rd - George Napolitano, Jr. - 16 points
4th - Anthony Napolitano - 10 points
5th- Ricky Macomber - 8 points
6th - Mike Micallef - 6 points
7th - Dan Clements - 3 points
8th - David Ingraham and Bruce Ranger - 0 pts
The Championship continues on Tuesday evening with three more races and concludes on Wednesday night when the final four races will comprise the Pick-4 wager with a $5,000 guaranteed pool. The scoring system awards 10 points for a win, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth and 1 point for fifth. From the $17,500 total prize money , $8,000 goes to the winner.
(Pompano Park)
Cream always rises to the
Cream always rises to the top!!!! Come on Wally!!
Wally is still the
Wally is still the man!
That's a great line-up though...
Too bad Richard Simard
Too bad Richard Simard wasn't in the championship. He belongs in that company.