On the eve of their induction into the Florida Hall Of Fame by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), it only seemed fitting that driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Mike Deters turned out to be the focus of attention on the Saturday evening, March 6, program at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The pair teamed up for four winners on the night.
"It's very special to come back and to be honoured with this Florida Hall Of Fame induction," Wrenn told the Isle's John Berry in a live trackside TV interview after his first win of the night with five-year-old mare Rio Raider. "This is really where things started to take off for me, over 20 years ago, early in my career. Plus, it's always special to win with the horses trained by Mike [Deters] since he's my brother in law," added the 47-year-old winner of more than 8,100 races and over $46 million in purses.
A large entourage of family and friends assembled in the winner's circle after each of the four wins for the trainer and driver duo. Among them was Peter Wrenn's wife, Melanie, the sister of Mike Deters.
"It just couldn't be more perfect to be coming back since our dad, Bill Deters, is already in the Hall Of Fame and now Peter and Mike are going in at the same time, which is just incredible for all of us," Melanie Wrenn said to the Isle's John Berry in her trackside live interview. "We still have a ton of family down here in Florida and we went to Coconut Creek High School not far from here so this homecoming couldn't be any better," she added.
Along with pacing mare Rio Raider, the Wrenn-Deters combo teamed up for victories with conditioned race trotter Super Lotto, and conditioned race pacers Whole Lotta Wow and Prime Time Talent. They just missed a fifth winner when Our Lucky Killean was a close runner-up to Scoot For The Loot near the end of the evening.
For his part, Peter Wrenn will allow himself to bask only briefly in the satisfaction of this Florida Hall Of Fame induction.
"Before I came here tonight I had close to a month off since I last drove at The Meadowlands," Wrenn said. "We'll be going right home to get back to work with Hoosier Park opening soon. Early next week it's time to hit the books and get back to work again."
The Wrenn-Deters team also had a close third place finish in the $15,000 Open Handicap Trot with Baseball Express. Gale Warning, in rein to Tom Sells for trainer Michile Lorenzo, swept up off cover to win the event in 1:55 over Mr Tasty. Baseball Express held third after looming bold for the top prize in mid-stretch.
In the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace, Four Starz Bling earned a third straight win in the weekly top class in South Florida in front end fashion in 1:52.3 for trainer Ray Vizzi, driver Wally Hennessey, and the ownership of New Jenneration Stable of Palm Beach Gardens. The pocket-sitter Wheres Waldo, with Joe Pavia Jr., held second and Vapor In The Wind, partnered by Ricky Macomber Jr., went first over and persisted for third.
In addition to the Sunday evening inductions of Peter Wrenn, Mike Deters, Aime Choquette and pacer Swingin Glory into the Florida USHWA Hall Of Fame, a long list of people and horse annual awards will also be handed out by the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association.
(Pompano Park)