Florida Amateur Drivers Step
Up Again
Yet another important equine based cause in South Florida has become a recipient of the generosity and charitable spirit of the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC).
Following their weekly event on track which was won by driver Jamie Marra with claiming trotter Budlightning in a convincing first over effort in 1:58.1, the FADC members gathered in the winner's circle at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park to make a cheque presentation to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center of Loxahatchee, FL.
"We feel it's an extremely worthy cause and the fully licensed drivers in the Club donate back their 5% fee to charity, and I'm happy to report the vote on this one was completely unanimous" Jamie Marra of the FADC said. "Soon, we'll hit another milestone with $125,000 in total donations to charitable equine causes in the area" he added.
"The harness racing people at Pompano are extremely generous, and we're fortunate that the FADC is throwing it's support behind us" said Marty Friedman of the Vinceremos Center to the Isle's John Berry in the trackside live TV ceremony. "We have 23 donated horses and we help people of all ages with all kinds of disabilities through therapeutic riding" he added. "As a point of interest, our facility's name, vinceremos, means 'to overcome' in latin."
For more on the latest cause to be helped by the Florida Amateur Driving Club, visit www.vinceremos.org .
Stakes Season Starts For 3 Year Old Colts
The Saturday evening, June 23 card at Pompano kicked off the 2012 Sunshine State Stakes for 3 year old state-bred colts and geldings on both gaits for purses of $6,000 in Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) series.
Keemosable dominated his pacing rivals as a 1-9 favorite with a front end wrapped up tally in 1:53.4 with Bruce Ranger in the bike. Goldstar Raider, partnered by Walter Ross Jr. secured the pocket early and followed in for second with Diamond Cowboy in rein to Jay Sears next best for third. The Squaw's Fella-Bolero Athena colt Keemosabe is owned by Jerry Glantz of Delray Beach and races from the care of Stewart Nemiro and the Bruce Ranger Stable.
A tropical heavy rain dominated the last half of the Saturday evening proceedings, and in the 3 year old colt and gelding trot division in very sloppy conditions Its Very Possible was a front end upset winner in 2:05. Jim Gluhm of Trenton, FL co-owns, trains, and drove the Anythings Possible-I'm Fashionable gelding to his first lifetime win as the longest offering on the odds board at 23-1. Orleans, in rein to Robert Hoffman followed in for second and Coconspirator with Mickey McNichol in the bike was third.
In the early portion of the card, the Isle Mile Open Handicap Pace for an $8,500 purse saw Northern Companion get past all four of his rivals in the final half to stop the clock in 1:53.1 with Robert Hoffman in the bike. Talk To Tony with Bruce Ranger in tow cut the mile but could not hold off the stretch onslaught of Northern Companion. Neptune Blue Chip driven by Tom Sells was third. Howard Klohr trains Northern Companion, a 4 year old gelding by Cambest-Smoke It Out, for owner Dorothy Zarza of Lake Worth, FL.
The current meet at Pompano concludes on July 28, with post time every Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall Of Famer John Berry, and much is available in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com .
