With Joe Pavia Jr. in the bike, Scorpion Moon sat third in line as Jaavos Boy in rein to David Ingraham showed the way to three quarters in 1:28 through heavy, swirling winds from the east which noticeably slowed down horses in the third quarter along the Pompano backstretch. Midway on the final turn, Pavia brought the 11 year old Armbro Scorpion-Angies Nugget gelding to the outside to sprint home for the win over the pocket-sitting Big Baller in rein to Wally Hennessey while Jaavos Boy held third. Just behind that trio was outstanding mare Mystical Starlight, who overcame final half traffic trouble from seventh and last to finish third with Ed Hensley in tow in her first start of 2012.
It was the 82nd career win for the prolific Scorpion Moon to push his lifetime earnings to $893,406. When racing resumes on Saturday evening, March 10, Joe Pavia Jr. is scheduled for duty in all but two races on the program and he stands at 4,997 lifetime wins in the bike. Two of Pavia's top mounts are from his own barn on Saturday night, including Billie Blue Chip in the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace and B N Bad in $12,000 purse Open Handicap Pace.
Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall Of Famer John Berry, the replays archive and much more is found in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com .
