All good things must come to an end and such was the case for former world record holder, Tweedle Dum, whose nine-race winning streak came to a close Wednesday at the Isle Pompano Park.
The third race $14,000 feature trot saw Battleshoe Victor ($17.80) and driver Anthony Napolitano leave out from Post 5 and park Tweedle Dum, the 1-9 favorite and driver Walter Ross, Jr., through the opening quarter mile in :27.4.
Tweedle Dum then settled in on the lead as the field passed the half mile pole in :57.1. Racing down the backstretch, Diva Diva (Andy Santaramo) the lone mare in the field tried coming first-over but could not catch the race leaders as they tripped the teletimer at the three-quarter mile marker in 1:26.4.
At the top of the stretch, Napolitano moved Battleshoe Victor out from the pocket-trip, trotted right up alongside Tweedle Dum in mid-stretch and went on to win by one length in 1:55.3. Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger) was third.
It was the second straight win and fourth victory on the year for Battleshoe Victor, a six-year-old gelding by Valley Victory, trained by Tom Harmer and owned by Michael Polansky of Loudonville, New York.
There were four preliminary divisions of the Florida Breeders Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly trotters held as early, non-wagering races Wednesday. The top nine finishers from each set of races return next Saturday, October 25 for the Florida Breeders Stakes Finale.
The $7,000 first division for colt trotters saw the undefeated Whosgoinwhosstayin post his eleventh straight victory with a lifetime mark of 1:59.4 for driver Mickey McNichol. Whosgoinwhosstayin won by two and one-half lengths over Make Mine A Double (Dan Clements) and Be Lacheck (Wally Hennessey).
J S Victory and driver Bruce Ranger steamrolled their way to a lifetime mark of 2:01.4 in winning the second colt division by eleven and one-half lengths. Super Railee (Dan Clements) was second with Hard Workn Rick (Richard Simard) third.
In the $7,200 first division for filly trotters, Wally Jean and driver Mickey McNichol were able to hold off both Diamond Doll (Mark O'Mara) and Wecandoit (Stephen Oliwa) to win in 2:04 by one and one-quarter lengths.
Then in the second division, the sensational Pearl Of Capri and driver Dan Clements made it nine straight wins with a three and one-quarter length triumph in 2:02.2 over Over Drawn (Rick Harp) and JPs Victoria.
(Pompano Park)