In the $6,038 purse 1st leg of the Sunshine State Stakes for three year old pacing fillies, heavily favored Quail was sent to the lead and through fractions of 27.4, 57.2, and 1:25.3 by driver Bruce Ranger. Diamond Amber, in rein to Mickey McNichol, applied the first over pressure to the top of stretch and bursting off her cover to a short lead early in the stretch was Gold Star Gidget with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike. By mid-stretch, however, Gold Star Gidget could not sustain her momentum and Quail battled back to edge out Gold Star Gidget for the win in 1:55.3 over the track rated as sloppy. Prairie Lee driven by Tom Sells followed in for third and the 2011 two year old FSBOA filly pace champion, Cracker Coffee, followed in for fourth.
Quail, by Six Of Diamonds from the Cam Fella mare Armbro Robin, is a homebred racing from the care of her owners Kim and Jay Sears of Osteen, FL. Quail has won 5 of 6 starts already in her three year old campaign.
In the $6,075 purse 1st leg of the Sunshine State Stakes for Florida-bred three year old filly trotters, Selena and driver Bruce Ranger used a wide sweeping move going into the final turn to get in position for a mid-stretch confrontation with favored Pinch Of Thyme driven by Mel Turcotte. Selena edged away from Pinch Of Thyme in late stretch to stop the clock in 1:59, while the pocket-sitting Feel The Haze driven by Mickey McNichol followed in for third. Selena, by Anythings Possible from Twenty One Bee, thus picked up her first career win and it was her debut from the care Bruce Ranger-Stewart Nemiro barn for owner and breeder DCLD Stables of New York.
On the undercard, the Isle Mile Open Handicap Trot was contested for an $8,500 purse. En Controle, driven by Daniel Harvey, was the longest odds offering in the field at 17-1, and emerged from a second over trip to edge out heavily favored Wildfire driven by Mickey McNichol in 1:57.3. My Revenuer did the first over road work with Bruce Ranger in tow and a close third. En Controle, an 8 year old Self Possessed-Nutty Butty ridgling, is trained by Jean Beaulieu for the ownership of Haras De L'Estrie of Dunham, Quebec.
The state-bred program continues on Saturday night, June 23, as the three year old colts and geldings on both gaits will see action in their 1st leg of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes.
The 2011-2012 meet at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing concludes on July 28, with post time at 7:05 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall Of Famer John Berry, and much more is available in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com.
