The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park concluded its 2013-2014 season on Saturday night with a strong 11-race program highlighted by a trio of feature events, including two late closing finals.
The first feature was the $8,000 Late Closing Final of the Florida Amateur Driving Club Claiming Trot and that went, in an upset, to the 13-year-old warhorse Speedy Samadhi, driven by John Campagnuolo for owner/trainer Earlon Eugley in 1:58.3.
Making his 248th lifetime start, Speedy Samadhi, the rugged son of Pine Chip, off at 14-1, somehow found a small seam of opportunity turning for home to slingshot widest of all in the lane to snare victory from Herecopmesthechief (Dein Spriggs) with Whispur (Leon Cable) third in this action-packed event. Muscles To Spare recovered from an early miscue to finish fourth while Pacific Cyclone picked up the "nickel" in the octet.
When the gate sprang open, Now Virginia and Roger Goldstein left alertly for the lead along with VTs Gold Key, handled by Maurice Brooks Jr., with the latter assuming control at the opening marker in a snappy :27.4. Speedy Samadhi was tucked in third with Peaceful Prince fourth on the outside grinding forward. Pacific Cyclone was content to hug the pylons around the second turn with an impatient Whispur sent on a double bubble binge halfway through the mile in :58 followed by Herecomesthechief.
On the backside, Whispur surged up to take command and opened up some daylight past the third station in 1:28.3 with Herecomesthechief on the attack and Speedy Samadhi still locked up and looking for that seam of hope. Turning for home, Whispur was all out and couldn't stall Herecomesthechief, who surged on by but couldn't hold off Speedy Samadhi, who somehow shook loose to close widest of all for the win.
In a post-race interview, Campagnuolo said, "I was very fortunate to wend my way out as the leaders began to tire and Speedy [Samadhi] acted like be was the pebble inside a slingshot and, 'zing,' he was on his way."
Dein Spriggs, driver of Herecomesthechief, added, "I thought I had a chance to hit the wire first but, man, that horse of John's was very impressive tonight."
Both Campagnuolo and Spriggs commended the Pompano race office and management for "carding our events on a regular basis so we could continue our mission to help worthwhile charitable causes." The Club has donated in excess of $125,000 from driver's fees on their races.
For Speedy Samadhi, the win was his 59th lifetime with his earnings vaulting over the $260,000 mark -- $261,837 to be precise.
As sixth choice among the punters, Speedy Samadhi paid $31.20 to win while the exacta, with the 16-1 outsider Herecomesthechief second, paid $493.80. With Whispur third, the 2-7-4 trifecta came back $1,605.20.
The $8,000 Late Closing Final for condition-claiming fillies and mares went to the 3-5 favourite Goldstar Rockette, handled by Mickey McNichol for owner/trainer Louis Ginesi. The four-year-old daughter of Rock On led at every station, carding panels of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:26.1 before sealing the deal with a :29 finale to stop the timer in 1:55.1.
I C U Misty, handled by Dave Ingraham and the longest proposition in the sextet at 19-1, finished second three and three-quarter lengths away while the garden-sitting Racin For Gold (Andy Santeramo) finished third. Regal Magic and Foxy Ginger also earned awards.
For Goldstar Rockette, the win sent her 2014 score card to 5-3-2 in 13 starts, good for $17,824 this year -- almost three times the amount she earned last season in 17 starts. She's now banked $27,999 lifetime.
She paid $3.20 to win.
Finally, in the $10,000 Open Pace, S S G Stables' Cartoonist, driven by Dave Ingraham for trainer Jim McDonald, ground out a game, first over, photo finish win in 1:52.4, nailing the pacesetting Flight Exec (Kevin Wallis) in the final strides for the victory measuring a neck.
Whos Your Maddy (Walter Ross Jr.) finished third while Ricks Sign picked up the fourth place award. Avantage was fifth in the quintette.
For Cartoonist, a consistent four-year-old son of Modern Art, the win was his fifth of the year in 18 starts, sending his 2014 bankroll to $36,760, by far his most successful season of his young career.
As second choice on the toteboard, Cartoonist paid $8.80 to win.
(Pompano Park)