by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – February 16, 2005 – There will be 14 trotters battle it out in two $17,500 divisions of the second round of the $125,000 4th annual Mack Lobell Trotting Series Friday at Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

CAN YOU SEE ALL FOUR HORSES? Lori Louise (#4) noses out both U Toe The Bike (#1 and you can just see his nose), Midgie (#8 – you can only see his head number) and Mighty Maori A (#2) to win the Open II Trot at Pompano Park Wednesday in 1:56.4.

The 7th race first division features last week’s opening round winner, world champion double-gaited Standardbred Chucaro Ahijuna, the Argentinean Wonder Horse. Last week he nearly tied his track record at Pompano Park by one-fifth of a second, winning in 1:55.2 for driver Kevin Wallis. It was his first win of the year after two poor previous starts. He won by two and one-half lengths and starts from post five Friday.

His main rival will be Ultimate Sundance from post two for driver Bruce Ranger. The 15-race winner from 2004 has had it rough the last two starts from post 8 and post 11 but draws well for the second round from post two.

Sweet Count, who has been second in his last two starts for driver Tom Sells, goes from post four. Last week he was second by only a neck in the opening round of the series, losing to Damon Runyon.

Other contenders include Beepbeep Move Over (post 3) who was third last week to Damon Runyon, Make It Hot (post 7), Crest (post 6) and the 13-year-old trotter from Germany, Hero Pit (post 1), who last week won an overnight race in 1:57.

Track record holder Damon Runyon heads the 9th race second division from post six for driver Wally Hennessey. Last week he came from way off the trot, tipping three-wide from sixth place on the final turn to win in a three-horse photo finish by a neck in 1:57.1. He has now won three of his last four starts and also won the Mack Lobell Final two years ago.

Hellava Hush, starts from post four for driver Steve Condren and was second last week to Chucaro Ahijuna. In his first start of the year two weeks ago, he won in 1:56 and last year earned $144,000 racing against the top trotters in the nation.

Double Eagle (post 5) was third last week to Chucaro Ahijuna after leading for most of the mile and will be driven this week by Trevor Ritchie. Also entered are True Story (post 1), Bubba Dunn (post 3), Guy Gets Girl (post 3) and Dunkster (post 7).

TRACK NOTES: Track record holder Lori Louise ($8.00), the only mare in the field, upset the boys in a three-horse classic finish Wednesday in the 7th race $8,000 Open II Handicap Trot. She won by a nose in 1:56.4 for driver Kevin Wallis.

The featured race started off with Lori Louise and driver Kevin Wallis taking the early lead with Midgie (Wally Hennessey) pressing on the outside to the opening quarter mile in :27.4. Midgie then took command but by the half mile pole in :58.1, was challenged on the outside by U Toe The Bike and driver Bruce Ranger.

Ranger and U Toe The Bike moved closer and closer to the leader by the three-quarters in 1:27.1 as Lori Louise got perfect cover. And as they down the stretch, Wallis was able to swing out with Lori Louise and close in the final strides to win the three-horse photo finish. U Toe The Bike was second with Midgie third.

It was the first win in seven starts this year for Lori Louise, a seven-year-old mare by Jurgy Hanover, trained by Gordon Norris and bred and owned by Diane Norris and Clifford Grundy of Howell, Michigan.

Unbeaten Highway Hanover ($4.80) brushed to the lead from sixth place in the backstretch and went on to win the 3rd race $6,400 trot by three open lengths for his fourth straight win in 2005. The five-year-old gelding covered the one-mile race in a lifetime best time of 1:56.2 for driver Richard Simard.

The race first saw Call Me Hazel (Joe Pavia, Jr.) go to the early lead and then give way to Fraher Hill Magic (Kevin Wallis) after the opening quarter mile. But right after the half mile, Simard made his winning move with Highway Hanover. Fraher Hill Magic was second with Call Me Hazel third.

Highway Hanover, sired by American Winner, is owned and trained by Allen Tomlinson of Mason, Michigan.

There will be three $25,000 divisions for the second round of the $250,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series Saurday.