David Miller and Tim Tetrick are looking forward to Saturday night (March 5) at Pompano Park.
Two of the leading participants in the sport will be in action at the south Florida track features the $75,000 final of the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park Late Closing Event for mares, a $30,000 Invitation Handicap for trotters and a $20,000 Open Handicap for pacers, among the stellar 10-race card.
In addition, Miller and Tetrick will serve as team captains as the Florida Amateur Driving Club hosts a pair of events benefitting, in Miller’s case, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Tetrick’s favourite, New Vocation.
As Miller related, “This is the perfect way to pass along our blessings to those who have not had the same fortunate experiences as we have enjoyed."
Tetrick added, “Dave and I have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success because of harness racing and this event put on by the Florida Amateur Driving Club gives us a chance to say ‘thank you’ for that success. Dein [FADC President Dein Spriggs] spearheaded this event and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate."
Indeed, Spriggs’ Florida Amateur Driving Club has donated over $155,000 to worthy charitable causes since its inception with all members of the club donating their earnings from driving to the club for distribution.
The two-race event, carded as the first and fourth on the Saturday program, features Tetrick and Miller in both after having selected their respective teams during the Wednesday draw -- but not without controversy.
With the amateur pool of drivers running deep with talent, when post positions were to be drawn for the initial event, Miller tipped his hand by stating that he wanted Amateur Driver of the Year, Hannah Miller, as his first pick. When he did just that, the race for which David Miller was selecting was not to be drawn first but, rather, second. Seeing this, Tetrick then selected Hannah Miller as his first choice for his team, leaving Miller to growl, “Yes, that was kind of a dirty trick, but I hope to even the score on the racetrack Saturday night!”
Tetrick’s team in the first race consists of Billy Muggleston (91 lifetime wins), Dennis Whittemore (115), Mitchell “Sky” Walker (110) and Gary Barbere (54) while Miller’s roster in round one has “Touchdown” Teddy Bowman (73), Joe Pennacchio (152), Laurie Poulin (63) and Tom Eichas (10).
For the final event, Miller sports a lineup of Tony Dinges (17), Leon Cable (421), John Campagnuolo (48) and Dein Spriggs (412) while Tetrick has the aforementioned Hannah Miller (43), Tom Santeramo (10), Jamie Marra (45) and Steve Oldford (112).
The winning team will be determined by “points” with the FADC awarding the winning team’s charity $3,000 with $2,000 being donated to the other team’s selected charitable organization.
The $75,000 Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park Late Closing Event Final features four “leg” winners in the field of nine -- Totally Rusty, Velocity Vespa, Show Runner and Just A Bee -- with Strut My Stuff, Lucys Pearl, Pertty Music, Mach It A Par and Godiva Seelster rounding out a very talented field with over $2 million in combined earnings.
Velocity Vespa, trained by Chris Oakes for owner Susan Oakes, looks to rebound from a difficult journey as the 3-10 favourite in her last start. The six-year-old daughter of I Scoot Hanover, was caught outside during early fractions of :26.1 and :54.3 and finished off the board for the first time in seven seasonal starts. Velocity Vespa has drawn the advantageous five post and has been made the 5-2 morning line favourite with George Napolitano Jr. in the sulky.
Just A Bee, claimed back in September of 2014 for $12,000, has two wins in the series and was the winner last week in 1:52.2, picking up the pieces off of the “suicidal” opening half to score at 17-1 odds for Mike Micallef. Trained by Micallef for owners Anita Micallef, John McGoff and Greg Heath, Just A Bee is listed as the 7-2 second choice in the morning line.
The consistent Mach It A Par, trained by Jack Sheehan for owner Carmen Iannacone, has been second and third in two starts in this Isle Late Closing Series and is listed at the 9-2 third choice.
Godiva Seelster, Paul and Patricia O’Neil’s ultra-consistent mare, has drawn the outside post nine and will have regular pilot Wally Hennessey in her sulky. The six-year-old mare, trained by Dan Hennessey, has not missed a purse cheque in over three seasons covering over 75 starts.
The $30,000 Invitational Handicap Trot features a select sextet with combined earnings over $2.8 million.
The track record holding mare Oho Diamond heads the field off of a second-place finish in her 2016 debut. Trained by Renaldo Morales III for owner Dan Clements, Oho Diamond is listed at 8-5 in the morning line.
No less than four entrants are making their initial starts this season off of qualifying events -- Daylon Miracle, Natural Herbie, Crazy About Pat and Wind Of The North. Winding Hill completes the talented field.
The $20,000 Open Handicap Pace featured a stellar field, as well, with Panocchio, Scott Rocks, Bluehourpower, Dedis Dragon, Thebestofjoel and Johnny Grippa matching strides.
Trained by Jim Mattison, who co-owns with Emile Johnson Jr., Panocchio enjoyed a picture perfect journey to earn his initial win of the year in three starts. Panocchio is expected to have the driving services of Wally Hennessey and is listed as the 5-2 second choice in the morning line.
Scott Rocks, trained by Chris Oakes for Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey, cut the mile in his last start only to finish second to Panocchio, as the latter stopped the timer in 1:50.2. George Napolitano Jr. is expected back of Scott Rocks as is listed at 9-5 on the morning line.
Post time for the Saturday spectacular is set for 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)