It hasn’t taken long for the South Florida heat to facilite fast miles and the second Saturday evening program of the new meet at The Isle Pompano Park produced the first pair of sub-1:53 winners this month
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With calm conditions and a temperature of 84 degrees, a field of eight faced Charlie Miller’s starting gate for the $13,000 Open Pace. Race Secretary Greg DeFrank ordered Object Of Art to the outside starting position after a first-over win the previous week.
This time out, trainer-driver Ray Vizzi floated Object Of Art on the outside past the opening quarter of :27 seconds on the flank of Change Your Luck with Richard Simard. Vizzi was finally able to seize the lead after three-eights completion and he proceeded to pass the half in :55 flat.
Down the backstretch the final time, Object Of Art left the field behind with a :27.4 sprint to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.4. Early in the stretch the six-year-old Camluck-Artful Angel gelding had opened up a big lead and cruised under the wire with two lengths to spare in 1:52.1 over Golden Mattjesty and Cape Karuna. It was the 26th career win for Object Of Art, who has come back strong following a two month rest and Summer campaign at Yonkers.
The other noted fast mile on Saturday night at The Isle Pompano Park was turned in by Mighty Midas in 1:52.4. The Blissful Hall-Betterthanmidas seven-year-old gelding went down the road with Andy Santeramo in the bike to hold off the favoured pocket-sitter C B Tower. Mighty Midas is conditioned by Donna Richardson for Marie Erenstoft of Margate, Florida.
Wally Hennessey topped all drivers on the program with a four win performance. Hennessey was in the bike for an impressive front-end performance in spite of the outside nine post by claiming trotter Rovasreadytorumble. The ten-year-old Veeba Rova-Misty Tickles gelding notched his 40th career win. He’d been trained by Bill Griffin for Trot Time Farm of Savannah, Georgia and he was claimed from this event by trainer Don Cromer.
The Saturday evening program at The Isle Pompano Park had a full slate of festivities for the Broward County Boys and Girls Club fundraiser. A huge classic car and cruise night lined the trackside tarmac, which included an oldies deejay and two live bands. In the bounce horse race, former Light Heavyweight Boxing Champ Jose Morales was in the field along with Lamar Fisher, the Mayor of Pompano Beach.
The current schedule of live racing each Friday and Saturday evening will be extended to three programs per week when Wednesday night cards begin on October 14 at The Isle Pompano Park.
(Pompano Park)