by Frank Salive, publicity director, The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Horsepeople and track officials are still buzzing about what is believed to have been a precedent setting performance this week at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Rare Bunny, with Ray Vizzi in the bike, set what is believed to be a track precedent at Pompano for $4,000 claimers with a 1:52.3 win.

“Certainly for my 11 years here and probably in the track’s entire 46-year history there has never been a $4,000 claimer win in a time of 1:52.3 like Rare Bunny did on April 28,” says the track’s Director Of Racing Operations, John Yinger. “I would have thought a mile that fast might have only been possible for a bottom level claimer at a track configured something like Colonial Downs.”

Absolutely everything fell into place perfectly for the blazing mile by Rare Bunny. The 7-year-old Precious Bunny-How Rare pacer got a perfect pocket trip behind fast fractions. He’d also been dropped in class recently after racing with price tags in the $8,000-$10,000 range for the entire month of March.

“The weather was perfect, the wind was calm, it was almost 80 degrees and humid and the track surface couldn’t have been any better,” said winning trainer-driver Ray Vizzi. “What really helped set it up was that Kevin (Wallis) cut the mile with such a fast half in :55.2 and I didn’t have to come out until we were almost halfway down the stretch. It was the first start he was making for me since Bruce Ranger shipped out and I was surprised at what a really nice horse he is.”

In the remarkable performance Rare Bunny was owned by Pomtambo Stable. He was claimed from that April 28 race by new owner-trainer Stan Whittemore, who is expected to enter the pacer back for a slightly higher price tag for the Wednesday, May 5, program at the Isle.