One of the most prominent names in North American harness racing was overlooked by the public on the Saturday, May 15 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and the result was a stunning 67-1 upset
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Henri Filion Jr. executed a late stretch rally with claiming pacer Art Exposition that resulted in a 1:57.2 life's mark win. The resident of Loxahatchee, Florida owns, trains and drives the three-year-old Real Artist-Meadow View Sue colt. The pacer was making his 10th career start and returned $137.60 for the win.
Race favourite Bull Moose, in rein to Jay Sears, was put in striking position throughout the restricted claiming event but was engaged in an unexpectedly tense stretch duel with the pacemaking My Buddy Jimull, in rein to Ray Vizzi. Rolling on the far outside through the lane was Filion and the photo finish camera showed Art Exposition a scant nose up at the final buzzer.
David Ingraham was the leading driver on the 12-race Saturday night card in South Florida. His top winner was with Omaha Survivor in the $12,500 purse Open-2 Pace with an explosive 1:52.4 front end effort over Card Dealer, in rein to Tom Sells, and Catman with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike. Omaha Survivor, a five-year-old Ideal Towne-R N Labelle gelding is trained by Tom Harmer for Michael Polansky and Ciara Stable.
In the $15,000 purse Open Handicap Trot, Andre Brisson made just his seventh start of the year in the bike behind his trotter Terminator Hall and the result was a textbook pocket trip win in 1:56. Brisson owns and trains the eight-year-old Striking Sahbra-Tishes Wish veteran, who followed fraction-setter McCoy, with Wally Hennessey, all the way before tipping out late for his 31st career win. P C Moonshine, with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike, was a late closing third. Brisson shares ownership of the $198,000 career winner with Myra Aptekar of Pompano Beach.
Peter Blood was the leading trainer on the Saturday night card with a pair of winners. He harnessed up class dropper Cape Karuna for a 1:54 score in a $7,000 conditioned test with David Ingraham in the bike to defeat Mighty Midas, partnered by Tom Sells, and Born With Class with Wally Hennessey up. Blood also sent out four-year-old pacer Midnight Lawyer to equal his life's mark of 1:53.4 in a $5,500 purse non-winners affair over Van Zant with Walter Ross Jr. and Cant Slay Me driven by Wally Hennessey.
Next weekend, the 7:05 p.m. EST programs on May 21 and 22 will conclude the 2009-2010 campaign at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. The Summer hiatus will precede the resumption of live action in the third week of October.
(Pompano Park)