Two-year-old Florida-breds will be in the spotlight this Sunday (November 20), as Pompano Park will present four FSBOA-sponsored stakes events honouring the memory of the late Melvyn Aylor.
Aylor passed away in 2009 as the result of a training accident suffered earlier in that year.
He was a highly revered veterinarian with strong ties to Florida’s racing scene as a breeder, owner, trainer and driver.
The Aylor Memorial for two year-old trotting colts and geldings renews the arch-rivalry of Azzaro and Im Done, the only two combatants entered in this event with a purse of $14,450.
Im Done, now trained by Jim McDonald for owner Troy Basista, edged by his arch-rival in their last meeting and now sports a 3-4-0 scorecard in seven starts, good for $27,821.
Azzaro, owned by Jay Sears along with trainer-wife Kim Sears, has a slight edge in victories against Azzaro and his 4-3-0 record shows $24,615 in bounty.
The $14,800 Aylor for juvenile trotting fillies features a quartet, including Famous C and Prairie Pixie.
Famous C, trained by Dan Hennessey for Amante Standardbreds, has a pair of wins in her first season at the races and has chased Atlantic Crest — not eligible to this stake event — across the wire in her last two starts.
Prairie Pixie, never worse than third in her brief career measuring five starts, is owned by Laurie Poulin, along with Fred Morosini, Fritz Racing and trainer Mike Deters.
The $16,650 Aylor for two-year-old pacing fillies sports a quintet with Gold Star Aurora, Prairie Cowgirl and Tay Tay M the likely contenders for the Aylor crown.
Gold Star Aurora, owned by Marianne Audley and trained by daughter Maggie, has but one single blemish on her card and, with five wins in six starts, sports the healthiest bankroll of the quintet with $25,327.
Prairie Cowgirl, owned by the aforementioned Poulin and trainer Deters, along with John Spindler, got within a neck of Gold Star Aurora in her last start and shows a 2-2-1 card in her five starts worth $12,939.
Tay Tay M, still a maiden after seven starts but with five seconds and two thirds, is developing a reputation for her eye-opening punch at the end of her miles.
These aforementioned events will take place as non-wagering events staged beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The 10-race pari-mutuel program begins with the $16,450 Aylor for pacing colts and geldings and features the outstanding Prairie Panther, coming into this event undefeated in five starts at Pompano Park against these same classmates.
This ‘panther’ is owned by Laurie Poulin along with trainer Mike Deters and sports a record of 1:56.2, accomplished in his last start.
Among his competitors are Gold Star Bugsy and Maybe Ned, both second and third, respectively, the last two starts against Prairie Panther.
All of these events are sponsored by the FSBOA and lead up to its ‘super night’ scheduled for November 27 featuring two and three-year-old Florida-breds with total purses expected to exceed $400,000.
Also on Sunday night, Panocchio, undefeated in his first three Pompano Park this fall, returns to the scene after a week of respite from the racing wars.
The six-year-old altered son of No Pan Intended has 45 lifetime wins and $378,928 on his card and seeks to make it a ‘grand slam’ on Sunday against No Bad Dreams, Here Comes William, Duc Dorleans and Rockntouch.
Finally, there will be something better for the bettor as there are three carryovers on the program, including a $2,258 carryover on the Pentafecta fourth race and Super Hi-5 carryover of $5,557 in the finale. There is also a carryover in the Pick-6, as well.
First-race post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)