The three-year-old colt and gelding trot division of the 2012 Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) continued to produce upsets on the Saturday evening, June 30 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
In the $6,017 purse second leg of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes, favourites Trents Ringer and Its Very Possible made early miscues to eliminate themselves. Seizing on the situation was Do It All Man at 9-1. He cruised to a front-stepping victory in 2:01.3 with Louie Ginesi in the bike. Coconspirator, a 19-1 longshot offering, followed from the pocket for the runner-up spot with Mickey McNichol in tow, with Lovable Guy, in rein to Jay Sears, closing next best for third.
The win was the first for Do It All Man, a three-year-old gelding by Anythings Possible from the Tabor Lobell mare R Nonie. Jean Beaulieu does the training for the ownership of Haras De L'Estrie of Dunham, Que.
The $5,373 purse second leg of the Sunshine State Stakes for the three-year-old colt and gelding pace division was a five-horse non-wagering affair. Keemosabe dominated from the lead as expected, but in the stretch driver Bruce Ranger had to deploy the earplugs to seal the 1:53.2 win with a :26.4 last quarter. Gold Star Raider, in rein to Mickey McNichol, rode the pocket for second with Diamond Cowboy, driven by Jay Sears, following in for third.
Keemosabe, by Squaws Fella from the Jate Lobell mare Bolero Athena, races from the care of trainer Stewart Nemiro of the Bruce Ranger Stable and he's amassed a slate of 5-2-1 in night races already in 2012.
One of Florida's top amateur drivers, Laurie Lee Poulin, found the winner's circle for the first time this year on the Saturday night card with just her fourth mount of the season. Poulin was in the bike with Anahar Charlie for a front end 14-1 upset in the weekly event for the Florida Amateur Driving Club over favourite Budlightning in rein to Ted Bowman. Trainer Donna Reidel is also the owner of Anahar Charlie, a 10-year-old Ontario-bred gelding by Earl from the Jazz Cosmos mare Pretty Dashing.
In the weekly $8,500 purse Isle Mile Open Pace, Neptune Blue Chip survived a :26.1 battle to the quarter for front end control and went the rest of the way to win in 1:52.2 with Tom Sells in the bike. Maxines Menace, with Bob Hoffman in tow, closed stoutly from last to second while Bolero Topgun was sent first over by Andy Santeramo in the final half and saved the show position.
Neptune Blue Chip, a four-year-old American Ideal gelding from the Pro Bono Best mare Ms Pro Steinam, made it his sixth win in 23 starts this year for trainer Jim McDonald's Twenty Four Carrot Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and co-owner Ciro Gentile of Boca Raton, Florida.
The 2011-12 meet now heads into it's final month in South Florida. Through July 28, post time is 7:05 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday evening at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
(Pompano Park)