Callies Sweetheart paced to a lifetime mark of 1:56.4 on Friday at the Isle Pompano Park in winning her division of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Trained and driven to victory by breeder/owner Melvyn Aylor of Bell, Florida, it was a tough, grind-it-out victory for Callies Sweetheart.
The third race $7,272 first division saw Dontbreakmyheart and driver Dan Clements go to the early lead with Bat Outta Bell (Tom Sells) settling in the pocket seat past the opening quarter mile in :29.1. Before the half mile marker in :59 was when Aylor came first-over with Callies Sweetheart as they came charging after the race leaders.
By the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3, Callies Sweetheart was in second place behind Dontbreakmyheart, but as they came down the stretch, Callies Sweetheart pulled the pocket, collared the race leader and went on to win by one and one-quarter lengths. Dontbreakmyheart was second with Bat Outta Bell third.
It was the third win this year for Callies Sweetheart, a daughter of Mannart Howard.
In the fifth race, second division for two-year-old pacing fillies, Howards Pride and driver Bruce Ranger came first-over in the backstretch and was able to wear down pacesetter Bling (Mel Turcotte) and the pocket-sitting Goldstar Rosie (Dan Clements) in a classic three-horse photo finish to win by head in 1:57.3. Bling was second with Goldstar Rosie third.
Also sired by Mannart Howard, it was the second win this year and a lifetime mark for Howards Pride, who is trained by Mike Deters and owned by Mark Rorabeck of Nutrioso, Arizona.
There was also a non-wagering division of the Sunshine State Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies. Scoring her fourth straight win was Alice Springs and driver Wally Hennessey winning by three open lengths in 1:56 over Allee T (Bruce Ranger) and Just Be Original (Walter Ross, Jr.).
It was the 16th win in 17 career starts for the daughter of N Aboriginal. Tom Harmer trains Alice Springs for the Ciara Stables and Michael Polansky.
(Pompano)