The Valentine's program for 2011 is promising intense action in a pair of races for an excellent cross section of the continent's best female drivers
. The second and fourth races on the Monday evening, February 14 program will offer beefed up $7,000 purses for The Sweetheart Invitational Trot and The Sweetheart Invitational Pace.
The defending champion is Jamie Rucker. She triumphed in 2010 with trotting mare Cast British, who overcame a brief third quarter stumble. That proved to be her only win in the bike last year.
"I'm really excited to be back to Pompano to defend my title and I'd say probably more excited than the rest of the lady drivers because I don't do this very often anymore," said the career winner of 16 races hailing from Zanesville, Ohio. "It'll be tougher this year because it was a random draw for which horses we'll drive. Last year, I knew that trotting mare [Cast British] really well because I'd cared for her. Experiences like this only give me more respect for catch drivers that are relied upon to drive a lot of horses they may not know very much about," she added.
As it turned out, the draw luck for Rucker is quite promising. In the second race Sweetheart Trot she's drawn CRs Gift, a winner in her last start. In the fourth race Sweetheart Pace, Rucker has drawn Sees A Lookin, who has followed up a win with three straight runner-up finishes.
The other drivers competing include Laurie Lee Poulin, Anita Valstad, Ann-Karin Larsen, Gro Formia, Kelly Case, Doreen Dailey, Diane Long and Diane Hellen. In recent years along the trail of the Mildred Williams International Women's Driving Series, Larsen and Formia would often remind fans and competitors alike that "Norwegian Power" prevailed whenever they swept the top two positions in race, in reference to their country of origin.
"It should be a great night. It's a terrific cast of accomplished women. We're all fully licensed and we'll do our best to put on a great show," said Rucker.
The days of stock car or horse races for women drivers being referred to as 'the powderpuff derby' are now a page in history and certainly a distant memory.
"A lot of us are friends but when we come out for post parade and turn in behind the gate, make no mistake about it, everyone has their game face on and a total desire to win," Rucker added.
Upset In Saturday Night Feature
When heavily favoured Delivered From Zin made a first quarter break, the stage was set for another generously priced winner in the $14,000 purse winners over $10,000 lifetime handicap pace on the Saturday, February 12 program at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. It was the second time in three starts that Delivered From Zin has rolled into a break as a 1-5 or 1-9 public choice.
The opening half saw an unrelenting front-end battle shape up as Sports Fanatic (Dan Clements) parked out Daley Deposit Only (Dan Daley) in :26.3 and :54.2. That pair tired in the third quarter as Four Starz Bling (Bruce Ranger) paced right on by and posted third quarter in 1:22.4. In the stretch, Four Starz Bling gave way to Dragons Blood, who scored a well timed upset win at 9-1 with Mike Micallef in tow in 1:52.3.
The seven-year-old Dragon Again-Canaco Model gelding was plucked from a $28,000 claimer at Pocono last September by owners Anita Micallef and Lew Whitaker of Boynton Beach, Florida.
Mike Micallef posted a training and driving double on the card as his barn also scored with four-year-old gelding DVC Givemeattitude in a $6,000 purse undercard event.
(Pompano Park)