Tashia and Bruce Ranger shared the spotlight on Saturday night as Pompano Park closed out its summer meeting with a 12-race card.
Tashia, a three-year-old Six Of Diamonds filly owned by Jay and Kim Sears, extended her winning streak to five for driver Stephane Lareau with a very sharp 1:55 score in the opener for state-bred Sunshine Stake eligibles.
Her winning margin was easy enough -- three lengths -- but nonetheless, it was a hard fought win as she pulled on turn two just short of a soft :58.3 half and was forced to pace a backside quarter of :26.4 to edge to the lead around the final turn. From there, she paced a final panel of :28.4 to put away the minimal threat of Dandee Diamond and Walter Ross Jr. Pacesetting Seven Arias, driven by Mel Turcotte, was third while Goldstar Rockette and Lou Ginesi teamed up to be fourth. Full Of Moxie, handled by Bruce Ranger, picked up the final cheque in the field of six.
The win enriched the filly to the tune of $25,835 this year, more than double her two-year-old bounty with the entire menu of stakes ahead. She paid $3.20 to her backers.
Ranger, though, was the driving star of the night, winning four events with Young American ($2.20), All American Major ($2.80), Moonglow ($4.80) and Cartoonist ($7.00).
First, Marissa Tyler’s Young American, trained by Frank Petrelli, demolished her competition with a victory measuring just short of a dozen lengths in a lifetime-best 1:53.1. Though 1-10 in the betting, the dime superfecta returned a very healthy $249 and change as Go Go Patty Jo (62-1), Black Diamond Girl (26-1) and Fashion Ruffles (30-1) completed the top four.
Next, Amanda Tobinski’s Allamerican Major won for the 10th time this year -- and third in a row -- in 1:53.3, scoring by three parts of a length over a game Quincy with Maxines Menace third. The eight-year-old is now three for four since becoming a part of the Donna Riedel Stable.
Fred Monteleon’s Moonglow was Ranger’s third winner, handily scoring in 1:57.3 for her fourth win in 10 starts this year. Stewart Nemiro trains the four-year-old daughter of Credit Winner.
Ranger completed his grand slam with the S S G Stables-owned and Jim McDonald-trained Cartoonist, springing a mild upset over the 1-5 toteboard favourite Zavan, handled by Bryce Fenn. This three-year-old son of Modern Art was third through the first half, pulled with three-eights to go and wore down Zavan mid-stretch to score by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:55, annihilating his former mark by more than two seconds.
Other notable performances were put on by driver Joe Sanzeri, who got a driving double on the program with Memphis Mobster and Mr Casual, and Gaston Glaude’s Ornellaia Dream, winning her second straight by open lengths for Dan Harvey.
The Florida Amateur Driving Club was also in the spotlight on Saturday night as they made a sizable donation to benefit Women In Distress -- this after Marc Major’s Browner Shuttle won for the initial time in 24 starts this year. Handled by Joe Pennacchio, Browner Shuttle, from the seven post, hustled up early to secure a garden spot back of favourite Peaceful Prince (Jamie Marra) and then rolled by that one late to score by one and a half lengths in 1:58. As fifth choice in the betting, Browner Shuttle paid $14.40 to win. It was Pennacchio’s 137th lifetime win as an amateur.
Pari-mutuel racing returns to Pompano Park in early October for its 50th anniversary season.
(Pompano Park)