by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — A total of 17 older trotters have entered the opening round of the $125,000 Mack Lobell Trotting Series at Pompano Park on Friday. The three-week long series culminates on Saturday, February 28 with a $75,000 added final for the top nine point earners after two weeks of preliminary rounds.

The series features three current track record holders at Pompano Park, two former track record holders, five newcomers to south Florida and two Australian imports.

The fifth race $17,500 first division features the Pompano Park debut of I’m Dam Goog from California. The nine-year-old gelding was a 14-race winner last year for trainer Mark Harder, finishing on the board (first, second or third) in 29 of his 34 starts. Owned by Gregg Pistochini of Auburn, California, I’m Dam Goog starts from the outside in post eight.

His main competition will come from former track record holder at Pompano Park, Flashy Message, in post two. The oldest competitor in the series at age 10, Flashy Message hails from the Bruce Ranger Stable and is the class of the series with career earnings of $424,000 for local owners Mike and Arthur Biel of Weston, Florida. Two starts back Flashy Message won in 1:56¹.

The lone mare in the series is Lori Louise, who holds the track record for older mares set last year at Pompano Park in 1:55². She races out of the Gordon Norris Stable and was bred and is owned by his wife, Diane, and Clifford Grundy of Howell, Michigan. Lori Louise has two wins this season and starts from post three for driver Kevin Wallis.

Also entered is Zizi’s Balance, the highest money earner in the series last year, bankrolling $167,000 with 13 wins for owner/trainer Osvaldo Formia of Delray Beach, Florida. Zizi’s Balance starts from the rail.

Completing the field are Sweet Count (post four), Son Of Flair A (post five), Blazers Wally (post six) and Abundaprince (post seven).

The seventh race co-featured second Mack Lobell division features the continuous rival between co-track record holders Damon Runyon (post eight) and Trappers Salute A (post seven).

Damon Runyon is seeking a repeat performance in the Mack Lobell, having won the $60,000 Invitational last year for owner Carol Karter of Lake Worth, Florida. This season Damon Runyon sports two wins in five starts for driver David Ingraham.

Trappers Salute A was on a roll for trainer/driver George Napolitano, Jr., ending the 2003 season tying the track record set by Damon Runyon with a 1:54² victory towards the end of December and closing out the year with 12 wins. But so far in 2004 he has had his trouble regaining his winning strides after the return of Damon Runyon and has just one win in five starts, but two seconds and one third place finish.

A newcomer from the Meadowlands in New Jersey to Pompano Park is Dunkster from the far outside in post nine for trainer/driver Kurt Sugg. Also a 14 race winner last year, Dunkster won $153,000 for owner Dean Davis of Wooster, Ohio and took an impressive record at Northfield Park’s half-mile oval of 1:55¹. Two starts back he was an easy two length winner at the Meadowlands in 1:55².

Coerfurst, from post five, made his early intentions for the Mack Lobell known last week, shipping early to Pompano Park and winning the Open II Trot, leading from start to finish in 1:56⁴ for driver David Ingraham.

Also entered are Ichiban (post one), The Rotterdam (post two), Ultimate Sundance (post three), B Cor Super Tom (post four) and Jake’s Nordic (post six).

Track Notes: On Wednesday, the post position draw will be held for the opening round of Saturday’s $250,000 Isle Of Capri Pacing Series for older horses.

Saturday’s card will feature Superfecta wagering in every race. The annual Sweetheart Pace for lady drivers only takes place on Saturday with a possible ten starters in the field.