One of racing's great and rare spectacles, a match race, has been carded for Saturday evening, July 28, as a highlight of the closing program of the 2011-2012 meet at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
The combatants for the two horse competition are Northern Companion and driver Robert Hoffman drawing post one against Neptune Blue Chip and driver Bruce Ranger in post two. Northern Companion, trained by Howard Klohr for owner Dorothy Zarza of Lake Worth, FL, is a 10 time winner from 23 starts at the South Florida plant in 2012 for earnings of more than $45,000. Neptune Blue Chip competes for trainer Jim McDonald's Pacing Pretty Stable of Ft. Lauderdale and co-owner Ciro Gentile of Boca Raton, and is an 8 time winner from 26 starts this year for more than $37,000 in 2012 earnings.
The match race was a collaborative effort of Racing Secretary Greg DeFrank, Assistant Race Secretary John Berry, and the track's Director Of Racing Operations, John Yinger.
"I did an informal poll of a lot of people who have been around Pompano for decades, and nobody has a recollection of a match race being staged here ever before" Yinger says. "We thought it would be an interesting attraction for our final card of the Meet that might give people something to talk about in our short dark season until racing resumes on September 19. Of course we don't expect it to be anywhere near the stature of the Probe versus Park Avenue Joe race-off in the Hambletonian or anything like that, but it will be something different for Pompano nonetheless" he adds.
Post time is 7:05 p.m. on Saturday evening at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing for the final card of the season which began last September 21. The match race attraction, carded as the 3rd race, is scheduled to turn to the starting gate at 7:41 p.m. The purse distribution for the $7,500 contest will be 70% to the winner and 30% to the runner-up.
Tim T Is Florida's Excellent Rookie
A rookie colt trotter with a name resembling one of the sport's most prolific catch drivers Tim Tetrick is making headlines of his own in Florida.
Tim T, a 2 year old son of Basil from the Valley Victory mare Princess Michelle, easily handled his State-bred foes in a $4,700 purse third leg division of the Sunshine State Stakes on July 21 in the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) 2012 series. Tom Sells was in the bike to guide Tim T to a 2:03.2 life's mark performance for trainer Mike Deters and local owners Fred Morosini, Ken Fritz and Mike Prendergast. Tim T has won all three of his lifetime appearances to date.
In other third round action of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes, Feel The Haze partnered by Mickey McNichol was placed first in the $6,075 purse event for 3 year old filly trotters after One Point in rein to Andy Santeramo broke stride approaching the wire. Rosie Huff trains Feel The Haze, by Feel Like A Winner from the S J's Photo mare Hazy Photo, for Jake Huff of Pittston, PA and Stable 45 of Boynton Beach, FL. There were two divisions for the rookie pacing fillies, as Dona continued her dominance for owner and driver Tom Lehmann in 1:57.4, and Seven Arias had DeShawn Minor in the bike for her first career win in 1:58.4 for owner and breeder Laura Newbery of Boca Raton, FL. The Kim and Jay Sears Stable of Osteen, FL notched a pair of wins with 2 year old filly trotter Hollys Diamond and 2 year old gelding Rex. In the 3 year old filly pace division, Gold Star Gidget again got the best of her nemesis Quail in 1:55.1 with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike for owner and trainer Tom Audley of Bell, FL.
Pompano's final card of the meet is set for Saturday, July 28, at 7:05 p.m. with non-wagering FSBOA events commencing at 6:35 p.m. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall Of Famer John Berry, and much more is available at www.theislepompanopark.com.
