Although she didn't win in her return to her home state, the appearance on the racetrack of trotting mare BKs Luv was a most welcome sight on the Wednesday evening, May 11 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The daughter of Anythings Possible-Luv To Trot, owned by Fred Morosini of Deerfield Beach, Florida, had been away for a year of competition at The Meadows from the Dean Collins barn. In her return to the Sunshine State and back in the care of trainer and driver Mike Deters, BKs Luv finished a creditable closing fifth after almost a month away from the track. She did not win in her year in Pennsylvania and BKs Luv hasn't tasted victory since February 27, 2010 at Pompano.
She was originally trained at age two by Mel Turcotte and in her three-year-old season she was developed into a State champion by Deters. She defeated older rivals when earning a life's mark of 1:56.3 on October 21, 2009 at the South Florida plant and six weeks later BKs Luv won the Florida Breeders three-year-old filly trot championship final for a purse of more than $45,000.
The trotting breed dominated the Wednesday evening program. Baseball Express made a strong return to the winner's circle with a front end effort in a $6,000 purse conditioned test in 1:56.4. Trainer Mike Deters was in the bike behind the Conway Hall-Pine Booth seven-year-old gelding for owner Kevin Burch of Springboro, Ohio. It was the 23rd career win for Baseball Express, who is likely on his way back up the class ladder to the top level. His lifetime earnings now stand at $171,070.
Trotting specialist trainer Gaston Glaude continued his hot spell. Following a Tuesday evening win by his exceptionally productive mare Feel LA, Glaude was out again on Wednesday evening for another win photo with Duke Of Stormont. In a $5,000 purse conditioned affair, Tom Sells piloted the Sir Taurus-Lady Orbitex nine-year-old gelding to his 26th career victory over Anton K, driven by Jim McDonald. Speedy Samadhi, partnered by Wally Hennessey, was third.
Linda Lovelegs has proven to be another astute purchase by trainer Tom Artandi. Since being acquired from Ontario's Wayne Henry outfit in March, the four-year-old Muscles Yankee-Anklet Hanover mare has three wins in five starts at Pompano. On the Wednesday evening program, she front stepped her way to a life's mark of 1:56.3 with Chuck Connor Jr. in the bike over a $7,500 purse conditioned field. Nasty Secret, in rein to Dan Clements was less than a head back in the photo with Browner Shuttle, in rein to Marc Major, holding third.
In the top purse event of the evening for $9,500, Good Luck Penny played the role of giant killer with a 32-1 upset. Sundowner Bob, in rein to Chuck Connor Jr., tired late after putting away the first over challenge of Rock Hollywood, who made a stretch break in his first start of 2011. Good Luck Penny sat fifth throughout the mile and swept up widest in the final eighth of the mile to capture a life's mark of 1:56.2 over Kirty Dream in rein to Tom Sells and Bull Durham with Mike Micallef in the bike. Patrick Hannon trains Good Luck Penny, a five-year-old Dream Vacation-Penelope Yorktowne gelding, for Pacing Pretty Stable of Ft. Lauderdale.
There were no winners in the Pick-4 wager and there's a carryover of $2,198 into Saturday night's program.
The four nights per week live racing schedule continues through May, with post time at 7:05 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. Tuesday racing is dropped from the schedule in June, and Monday cards are also dropped in July for the final month of the current meet.
(Pompano Park)