Delray Beach, FL – The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association kicked off their Sunshine State Stakes program at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village on Saturday (Nov. 1) with programs scheduled each Saturday during this month.
The eight race program featured the remaining eligibles for their Stakes program as the Standardbred program in Florida continues to wind down with the closing of Pompano Park in 2022.
But, truly, the star of this day was a 49-year-old driver with a “QF” license—Joe Fiorello
Fiorello guided Prairie Puma to victory in the Sunshine Stake for 3-year-old pacing fillies and, in doing so, graduated to the winner’s circle in his very first drive for purse money.
Fiorello, whose main occupation is assisting in the recovery process from mental health issues and substance abuse, also is the curator of River Run Race Horse Retirement, stressing a new beginning for retired racehorses.
Prairie Puma, a daughter of Royal Millennium trained by Nick Coblentz for owner Dein Spriggs, gave Joe Fiorello an opportunity seven years in the making by taking a trainer’s test—under the supervision of this writer—in 2018 and, stride-by-stride, completed his journey to the winner’s circle.
Fiorello became interested in the Standardbred industry and took the trainer’s exam but, when COVID struck, was set-back severely in his quest to become more ensconced in our industry.
Working countless hours learning from books, trainers advice and hands-on training, he finally was able to get in the sulky for some qualifying events over the past four years and, this day, made his first start for purse money with his benefactors being owner Dein Spriggs and trainer Nick Coblentz in giving him this opportunity.
Taking the lead at the outset from his outside post—two—Fiorello put up rated numbers that suited Prairie Puma just fine and capped off a 2:14 mile with a :30.2 finale.
In a post-race interview, Fiorello lamented, “This is a dream come true for me. I was thinking of my great friends, Jerry Silverman and Donna Lee, going to the gate and I know they were pushing me home today.
“A lot of people helped me get this far…Dein (Spriggs) and Nick (Coblentz) today and so many others like, Wally Hennessey, Paul Kelley, Richie Silverman and Dale Gilmour, to name a handful, and this day is one that will be with me forever.
“I’m hoping that River Run Racehorse Retirement will make a difference, as well. These horses give their heart and soul and I want to give mine right back to them!”
Now, on to the other results…
As is customary, 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds were featured with the following results:
Race One—Sunshine State Stake Two-Year-Old Filly Pace—$1,800
In a walkover, Dances With Gators, driven by trainer Mickey McNichol for owner George Birkhold, strutted around the one mile Sunshine Meadows oval in 2:10 off of fractions of :33, 1:07 and 1:39. The win was the second in four lifetime starts by the daughter of Dancing Yankee, who already has a 2:02h mark over the Lebanon, Ohio half mile oval.
After the event, McNichol remarked, “I have to say this is one of the easier trips I have had to the winner’s circle…but they all count!” The 77-year-old McNIchol now has 4,767 career wins with owners benefitting ton the tune of over $44 million in purses.
Race Two—Sunshine State Stake Two-Year-Old Filly Trot—$1,900
Mis Amigas, a daughter of Father Patrick, broke her maiden with a handy 2:04 score for Mike Wilder, who was in the sulky for trainer Dan Altmeyer and owners including the Altmeyer Wilder Stable, David Wills, Beverly Ross and Nadine Koch.
The youngster had been racing at The Meadows and race-timed as quick as 1:58.3, so it was no surprise she handled her competition handily, earning Wilder his 9,240 career success as he approached $80 million in purse money.
SL Mon Petite was second for Marshall Makin while Gators No Angel was third for Mickey McNIchol.
The winner pushed her lifetime bankroll to $7,238 in her eight lifetime starts.
Race Three—Sunshine State Stake Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot
It’s Margarita Time celebrated her journey to Florida with a handy win for 77-year-old Marshall Makin, who is co-owner along with Rebecca Glassford.
A gelded son of Lockkeeper, sporting a 5-3-2 scorecard in 11 starts coming into the action, It’s Margarita Time seemed well out of touch with the leader early on but kept gnawing away, finally overtaking the top spot on a miscue by the leader, Ugottabkidnme, handled by Marlin Fry, turning for home with the mile clocked in 2:12.3—final half mile in 1:02.2.
It’s Margarita Time vaulted his earnings for this semester to $49,430.50 with this sixth win.
Race Four—Sunshine State Stake Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace—$1,850
McHungry, a sharp looking altered son of Stay Hungry, easily toured the Sunshine Meadows miler with a handy 2:05—:30 score for Mike Wilder, McHungry put ups all the number in this match race of sorts with his only competitor Gators Big Victory second for George Birkhold.
Trained by Dan Altmeyer for Altmeyer Wilder Racing, Hutchison Harness, David Willa and Jean Allred, McHungry gave both driver Wilder and trainer Altmeyer doubles on the card spiking his recored to 2-3-1 in nine starts, good for $40,441,50 to go along with his 1:53.3 mark in Philly.
Race Five—Sunshine State Stake Three-Year-Old Filly Pace—$1,850
Prairie Puma, a daughter of Royal Millennium trained by Nick Coblentz for owner Dein Spriggs, gave Joe Fiorello his first lifetime victory in his very first drive for purse money. (See story above)
Race Six—Sunshine State Stake—Three-Year-Old Filly Trot—$1,850
With a “transportation” scratch, trainer-driver Nick Coblentz was able to guide Sunshine Jet to a 2:12 win, clocking fractions of :35, 1:06 and 1:41 before a :31 final stopped the clock. Said Coblentz after the race, “I just let her do what she wanted to do. She was smart and careful around the turns and very sharp on the straightaways.
The lightly raced filly—5-3-1-1 ($15,634) last semester as a two-year-old, began her sophomore campaign in the exact same manner she did last year—November 2, almost exactly one year ago.
Coblentz trains the filly for Amante Standardbreds.
Race Seven—Sunshine State Stake—Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot—$1,850
Amante Standardbreds earned a consecutive double as Delray Jet, perfectly handled by Robert Hoffman for trainer nick Coblentz in a perfectly rated 2:09 win off panels of :33.1, 1:07.2 and 1:38.3.
The son of Odino Jet picked up right where he left off last season and sent his winning skein to three in, this, his first start of the year.
Jays Gator Boy was second for Mickey McNichol as the only other starter.
Delray Jet now sports a 3-2-1 record in six lifetime starts, good for $19,929.50.
Race Eight—Sunshine State Stake—Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot – $1,800
The finale featured another rare walkover with the beneficiary being the team of trainer Nick Coblemtz, driver Marlin Fry and owner Marianna Audley as Gold Star Lucky crawled around the oval in 2:45.2, only needing fractions of :43, 1:35 and 2:04 along the way to claim the whole prize.
Trainer Coblentz remarked after the race, “This shows you that ‘time’ means nothing as a walkover can take three minutes or three hours…just so they get around the track safely and home without a scratch!”
Driver Fry certainly heeded Coblentz’ advice in drive his first winner of the season and 78th lifetime.
Racing continues at Sunshine Meadows next Saturday, Nov. 8 with post time at 11 a.m.