Tough Cassidy and driver Anthony Napolitano ended the $100,000 bonus hopes of rivals Storming Howard and Valentines Gator Saturday at the Isle Pompano Park, scoring a lifetime record of 1:54.2 in capturing the $14,000 final of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Both other horses needed to win to remain eligible for the $100,000 bonus.
The feature pace saw Time To Scoot (Dan Clements) in the early lead, but by the opening quarter mile Storming Howard (Bruce Ranger) had looped them to take command in :28.2. But that was short lived as Napolitano had in gear and on the move, taking the lead as they passed the grandstand the first time.
Tough Cassidy then led the field to the half mile pole in :56.3. As the field entered the backstretch, Eric Irving came first over with Bensalem and they started after the race leaders, pushing the field to the three-quarters in 1:25.
As they started down the stretch, Ranger got clearance with Storming Howard and came right after Tough Cassidy, who held game, dug in and won by a neck. Bensalem was third.
"This was the first time I ever drove this horse and I like him a lot," said Napolitano. "He's game and keeps going. When the other horse came at him he got brave and held him off."
It was the fourth win in ten starts for Tough Cassidy. The gelded son of Tough Sir was bred and is owned by Jay and Kim Sears of Osteen, Florida.
For Anthony Napolitano, it was his first weekend back at the Isle Pompano Park and he closed out the program with an impressive five wins on the card.
It was a night for speed as trackman JD Thomas had Pompano's oval in fine shape.
Alligator Alley became the fastest Florida-sired three-year-old ever at the Isle Pompano Park as he steam rolled his way to a two length 1:51.3 triumph in the $14,000 final of the Sunshine State Stakes Series for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
The pocket-sitting Sodys Moonshine (Joe Pavia, Jr.) was second with McRyan Michael (Bruce Ranger) third. Alligator Alley's lifetime mark was two-fifths of a second away from tying the track record of 1:51.1 set by Mahdi in 2007.
Sired by Raging Glory, Mark Rorabeck of Nutrioso, Arizona owns Alligator Alley, who is trained by Michael Deters.
Bruce Ranger, who had four winners Saturday, was able to weave his way between horses in deep stretch and post a head victory over the late closing Hearty Fellow (Dan Clements) and pacesetter Cape Karuna (Anthony Napolitano) in 1:51.3.
Fred Monteleone of Pompano Beach, Florida owns Paper Luck, a five-year-old gelded son of Camluck, who posted his sixth win of the year for trainer Bruce Ranger.
(With files from Pompano)