Ppk5/8 - Maier's Trotting Crew Surges at Pompano

The second week of January produced a common sight after trotting races on January 10 and January 11 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park: horseman Tim Maier posing with entrants from his stable in the winner's circle.

Big Baller (7-Tim Maier) held off the pocket sitting Sonny McDreamee (9-Dan Clements) on January 11, 2012 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. It was the second straight program in Florida for trainer-driver Tim Maier to return to the winners' circle with a trotter from his own stable. (Skip Smith Photo)

Maier's run of success continued on the Wednesday evening card. Big Baller took advantage of class relief into a $5,400 purse conditioned event and responded to being put on the lead early to score in 1:57.3 over the pocket sitting Sonny McDreamee in rein to Dan Clements and Karpathos partnered by Daniel Harvey. The Panama Hanover-Charming Spirit compiled 9 wins in 32 starts for Maier last year, which included earning his 1:56.1 life's mark since arriving at Pompano. Big Baller increases his life's earnings to almost $110,000 with this win for Desomer Stables of Wilton, CA.

Maier, 58, hails from Willard, OH and campaigned at Cal-Expo before locating to Pompano Beach via Running Aces in Minnesota last Fall. In the bike, Maier recently surpassed $10 million in career earnings from over 2,200 wins and 2012 could see him continue a streak of his top years training which began in 2009 and continued through 2011. He was also a winner on the Tuesday card with Rompaway Brandon. The Yankee Ryder-Rompaway Sue gelding, now 6 years old, easily handled a $4,000 purse conditioned event and Rompaway Brandon is coming off a career best year also orchestrated by Maier in which he won 8 of 34 starts and captured a life's mark of 1:56 at Running Aces in Minnesota.