Track record holder Tweedle Dum, who in 2006 won 21 races in a single season, made a triumphant return after a 10-month layoff, winning the $12,000 Open Trot at the Isle Pompano Park Harness Track on Wednesday.
Driven by Walter Ross, Jr., Tweedle Dum was able to lead from start to finish, winning by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.1 over Gale Warning (Wally Hennessey) and Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger).
“I just keep my fingers crossed that he will remain sound,” said trainer Gordon Norris. “I have never had a horse overcome a serious injury three different times like this one and he keeps on winning.”
It was November 26, 2007 that Tweedle Dum made his last start, winning the Open Trot. He then came back two months later, but re-injured his left hind suspensory and had to again sit out until this season.
“He keeps getting stronger,” said winning driver Walter Ross, Jr. “I see him improving every week and that is good.”
Owned by Diane Norris and Alfred Brotter of Pompano Beach, Tweedle Dum is an eight-year-old gelding by Star Challenge. He has made 150 starts over his career with 51 wins, 32 of them at the Isle Pompano Park.
In other action, there were seven divisions of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes for two and three-year-old trotting colts and fillies on Wednesday.
The winningest horse this season has been Southern Rain, who posted his 11th straight win with a one-length triumph in 1:59.3 in the sole division for three-year-old trotting colts and gelding. Driven by Bruce Ranger, Southern Rain is just two wins shy of tying the all-age track record for most consecutive wins at 13 set by You’re Next in 2006-2007.
Undefeated Whosgoinwhosstayin made it eight straight wins, becoming the only two-year-old trotter in North America to achieve that mark.
Driven by Mickey McNichol, Whosgoinwhosstayin was able to hold off rival Be Lecheck to win a division of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes by one and three-quarter lengths for breeder Sophia Valkanoff, who co-owns the gelded son of Basil with trainer Linda Kakaley of Pompano Beach.
“We have never seen one like him before,” said Linda Kakaley. “He was really full of himself today and just wants to trot.”
In the first two-year-old colt and gelding trot division, Make Mine A Double and driver Dan Clements wired the field in 2:04.1.
Clements also won the second division of the Sunshine State Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies with Pearl Of Capri by one length in 2:01.4. It was a lifetime mark for Pearl Of Capri who posted her sixth straight win.
The first filly division saw Wally Jean and driver Wally Hennessey lead from start to finish in a romp by four and one-half lengths in a lifetime best time of 2:03.2.
Baileysirishdream also made it six straight wins with a three-quarter length victory in the second division of the Sunshine State Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies. Trained and driven to victory by Robert Roberts, Baileysirishdream won in 2:01.
The first division was captured by Indigo Swirl and driver Bruce Ranger in 2:01.1 by two and three-quarter lengths.
(With files from Pompano)