The Florida Amateur Driving Club hosted its annual Tetrick-Miller Pro-Am competition at Pompano Park on Sunday night (March 1), and it was ‘Team Tetrick’ that edged ‘Team Miller’ benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and New Vocations.
Steve Oldford was the star of the evening, as he guided two winners in the three-race competition, while Ron Cusimano kept the Miller team in the ballgame with a win, as well.
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Representatives from Make-A-Wish and New Vocations were on hand to receive their donations from the Florida Amateur Driving Club in the Miller-Tetrick Pro-Am Competition at Pompano Park.
Oldford's Mego Moss captured the opening leg of the competition, as he gave his 11-year-old gelded son of Amigo Hall a picture perfect drive. He zipped his warrior out of the cozy pocket with five-sixteenths of the mile remaining, and went on to an insurmountable lead. He coasted to the wire in 1:57, which was a personal season’s best.
The victory was the 36th career win for Mego Moss, who has banked $409,482 during his 205-start career. UKnow What To Do, with James Dunn in his sulky, was next, followed by High Blue, driven by Captain David Miller.
Mego Moss paid $17.60 to his faithful.
About 22 minutes later, Ron Cusimano sent Everyones Talkin off the wings in a hurry and scored a wire-to-wire win in 1:57.1. The duo carved out panels of :28.1, :58 and 1:27.3 along the way. Santini (who was steered by Oldford) was next, followed by the Jamie Marra-driven Glide In The Wind.
Cusimano co-owns the Jake Huff trainee with the consortium of Angelillo, Tanzer and Sirianos. The nine year-old gelded son of Donato Hanover won for the 28th time in his career, which sent his bounty to $$285,918.
As the even-money chalk, Everyones Talkin paid $4.20 to his multitude of followers.
With but one point separating the two teams going into the finale, Oldford took care of business, again. He drove one of his own, Smart Flight, on a wire-to-wire mission, which landed him a scant head up at the wire in 1:58.1. War Cry Hall finished second for Leon Cable, while Skyway Jaguar, driven by Ron Cusimano, was a fast-closing third.
As second choice on the board, Smart Flight paid $8.20 to win.
After the ‘official’ sign was posted, the festivities continued in the winner's circle, as Tetrick and Miller helped presented $4,000 cheques to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and New Vocations.
Oldford said in the winner's circle that "David and Timmy have been so valuable in making his a yearly tradition and, in doing so, this shows what harness racing can do for the community and far beyond."
Miller explained that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is very close to his heart, and said "it's really wonderful that this wonderful organization can fulfill the dreams of children in need. It's a wonderful feeling that our sport can have such a positive influence in our society today."
Tetrick, similarly, sung the praises of New Vocations, which has helped thousands of horses find new homes after their racing careers are over. He lamented, "A good example of their wonderful work hits right here as Hurricane Howard and Just Like Lloyd, both that have raced here at Pompano Park, have found new homes after their career in racing."
The Florida Amateur Driving Club has donated well over $200,000 to charitable causes since its inception – over $50,000 over the past five years, alone.
As Spriggs said, "This is only possible due to the generosity of our members who donated all of their earnings from driving so we can have a positive impact in our society through our grand sport."
(Florida Amateur Driving Club)