Robert Barker of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida had been an avid owner and breeder of harness horses for several decades and now he can add the first training win of his career to his list of fine memories in the game
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Barker, 61, originally hailing from Hudson, New York, is the breeder and owner of four-year-old pacer Stiletto Jake, the 2009 two-year-old colt pace champion of the $40,000 Florida Breeders Stakes Fall Series Championship when racing from the care of trainer Robert Connor Jr. On the May 14 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, with Richie Simard in the bike, Stiletto Jake benefitted from a ground saving trip in a $5,000 purse conditioned pace for a 16-1 upset.
It the first lifetime win for Barker in his 17th training start. He shares ownership of the Spy Hard-Embers Glory son with Marah Lee, also of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. It was also the first win for Stiletto Jake in over 17 months and bumped up the pacer's career earnings to just over $75,000.
Heavy rains, thunder and lightning made the conditions too dangerous to continue after the fifth race and the balance of the program was cancelled. A Pick-4 carryover of $2,198 moves over to the fifth race on the Monday evening, May 16 program with live streaming and replays available in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com.
(Pompano Park)