There could soon be a new reinsman in the full time driving colony at Pompano Park. It would be a very substantial addition indeed since he's been atop the drivers’ standings in recent years at Cal Expo in California
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"I'm at a stage in my career where I felt it might be a time to make a change and right now I'm just weighing my options," said Luke Plano. "I don't know yet if I'll make it a permanent move. I will say I've always really liked Pompano from what I've seen on simulcasting over the years and what I've seen here for myself so far. As everyone knows the weather is great and my first impression is that it could be a great opportunity.”
Just to make an appearance on the Pompano program on Monday evening was quite a transcontinental feat for the driver with over 1,800 wins and almost $7 million in driving purses to his credit. Less than 48 hours earlier and several times zones away, Plano won five times on Saturday night (on the occasion of his 31st birthday) at Cal Expo before heading to Florida from Sacramento, CA. A major influence on Plano's decision to try Pompano has been trainer Tom Wine. Since last October, Wine has been a great fit in the training colony in South Florida. In the current meet Wine has sent out 21 winners from 165 starters for purse earnings of over $99,000. It could prove to be the continuation of a past successful business relationship from the west coast.
"I've been fortunate to win the drivers' title for the past few years and Tom Wine was one of my best accounts back in California before he came here for this meet" Plano added. "Tom has helped me a lot in my career and told me a lot of good things about Pompano too. Now I've got to go out and prove I belong, can compete, and make a living here.”
In his first drive at Pompano on Monday evening, Plano teamed claiming pacer Stylish Glory to a third place finish.
Newcomers Step Into Limelight At Pompano
It took only as long as two minutes from the start of the program for newcomers to the racing scene in South Florida to make their presence felt on the Monday evening card at Pompano Park.
Permanent Joy, a three-year-old Trot For Joy-Permanent Vocation colt seized the lead just part the quarter and went flawlessly the rest of the way through heavy, swirling winds on the 79 degree Florida evening to stop the clock in 2:00. It was the first training start of 2011 for Sergio Corona with the promising colt that earned a 1:58.4 mark at Lexington last September in his two-year-old campaign. In the bike was his 61-year-old owner, Robert Krivelin, of Goshen, NY. Krivelin owns the colt under his Hero Stables’ moniker and this was the 120th career win in the bike for Krivelin, an avid competitor on the Billings Amateur Series trail.
In the runner-up slot in the same event was six-year-old mare Iced Kash, owned and trained by Glen Mason of Vernon Centre, NY. It was the first starter of 2011 sent out by Mason, and he shares ownership with Diane Mason. Wally Hennessey was in the bike.
The Tuesday, April 5 program is highlighted by the weekly top pacing mares event for a $14,000 purse. Post time is 7:05 p.m.
(Pompano Park)