Persistence is paying off in a big way for 57-year-old Peter Pellegrino, the leading trainer at the 2010-2011 meet at Pompano Park
. On the way to becoming the first conditioner at the track to reach 50 wins for the meet, he's already secured his best career year in the process.
Pellegrino harnessed only one starter on Tuesday evening. The overwhelming favourite he sent out in the $14,000 purse pacing mares feature, Im Just Special, delivered the expected front-end victory in 1:52.1 with Bruce Ranger in the bike. It was the 26th career win for the 6-year-old daughter of Camluck-Ladys Special Girl which increased her career bankroll to $627,886 for Bronxville, NY owners Susan and Ted Colby.
In addition to becoming the meet's first trainer to reach 50 wins, the transplanted native of White Plains, NY now making home at Deerfield Beach, FL padded his lead atop trainer earnings category. Pellegrino-trained starters have raked in just under $250,000 since the meet began last October 16, giving him a lead of about $35,000 in the earnings department over the Kim and Jay Sears stable.
The Tuesday evening win by Im Just Special was also the 40th of 2011 for Pellegrino, which already makes it his best career year to date. He's already surpassed his previous high of 38 winners in 2010 and he's on course to easily surpass his previous best single season's earnings of over $300,000.
Promising Filly Wins 2011 Debut
Bells Are Ringing hadn't been seen since a sixth-place finish in the Countess Adios on the 2010 Hambletonian program at The Meadowlands, but she made a big impression in her three-year-old season's debut on Tuesday evening.
The daughter of Cams Card Shark-Heavenly Sign was set to roll after a sharp qualifier and easily handled the maiden fillies and mares class with a dominant front-end score in 1:55.4 with Wally Hennessey in the bike. Horseman Don Swick, formerly of Tiffin, Ohio and now making home at Royal Palm Beach, FL is the trainer and co-owner of the promising filly. An ownership share is also held by Royal Wire Products Inc. of North Royalton, OH. From four appearances as a two-year-old, Bells Are Ringing earned $21,145 before her Tuesday evening win at Pompano. She was sold for $20,000 as hip 575 at the 2009 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Peter Blood was the leading trainer on the Tuesday evening card, as he sent out older mares M A Jackie and Eve to victory in overnight events. Both were partnered by Dan Clements as he racked up three winners to lead all drivers on the Tuesday program. Racing resumes on Wednesday evening, March 30 with Gale Warning and Andover America headlining the $14,000 weekly top trot.
(Pompano Park)