The leading driver in the 47-year history of harness racing in South Florida has made his first appearance in a charted race following a racing accident which sidelined him almost three months ago
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In a qualifying race on Saturday morning, July 2 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, Bruce Ranger was in the bike for a winning spin in 1:59.1 with Keystone Thomas, a top class trotter from his stable that has recently been plagued by breaks in stride.
It was Ranger's first official drive since a racing accident on April 12 in which he suffered a severely separated shoulder and multiple injuries. As his therapy and convalescence has progressed, the 51-year-old horseman has been able to jog horses in the morning and warm up his stable's starters on race nights with a special shoulder harness. More than 75 per cent of Ranger's 8,085 lifetime wins in the bike have been at the South Florida venue.
Although he returned to bike duty in the July 2 qualifying race, Ranger did not list himself to drive any of his stable's four starters entered for the Wednesday evening, July 6 program.
The Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) surpassed an important milestone after their weekly race on the Saturday, July 2 program.
A $1,000 donation was made by the FADC to South Florida's Rockin T Equine Rescue organization in a special ceremony after the second race.
"This brings us to a pretty big milestone of over $100,000 in donations we've made and it's thanks to our members who forego the 5 per cent driving commission for charity and are simply staunch supporters of Florida harness racing," said Joe Pennacchio of the FADC. "The organization we chose this time takes in injured or homeless horses and they recently took in 11 standardbreds, which we think was just outstanding."
Pennacchio was also the winner of the FADC weekly event on the July 2 card. He worked out a pocket trip win in 2:00 with Trotting Colonel to edge out Sweet Melissa driven by Laurie Lee Poulin. Blacksnake Blake was third under the wire with owner Steve Messner in the bike in the $3,800 purse event.
It was a huge return to form for Rockincam on the Saturday evening card in South Florida in the $14,000 top weekly pacing event. He was a close runner-up in the $300,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes three-year-old colt pace final last September in Lexington.
In the third start of his four-year-old campaign, Jason Dillander was hired to drive. The son of Cambest-Migraine was parked past the quarter in :27.4, and proceeded to expand his margin on the field the rest of the way through fractions of :55.4, 1:24.2 and 1:51.1. Four Starz Bling, parntered by Wally Hennessey, held second with Avantage and driver Mickey McNichol brushing in for third.
Unraced at two, Rockincam is trained by Warren Harp for owner Stephen Farrell of Ocala, Florida. His career earnings are $115,750.
(Pompano Park)