by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The fourth legs of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes were contested at Pompano Park on Sunday night (Oct. 9) and in the sophomore division for trotting fillies Gold Star Brianna extended her lifetime unblemished record to 11 with a handy 12-1/4 length, trouncing of her four foes.

Trained by Dan Hennessey for owner Kevin Kelly, Wally Hennessey was in the bike for the filly’s win — her fourth straight this semester after a perfect seven-for-seven as a 2015 2-year-old.

The daughter of Basil was away in good order from her four post while out-brushed for the top spot by Trotting Missmissy (Marc Major) as the gate sprung but made a quick and decisive quarter move past the :30 opener. From there, she went on to post fractions of :59.3 and 1:29.1 before a :29.4 stroll-in-the-park home put the icing on the cake in 1:59. Trotting Missmissy was second while Trottime Fool (John MacDonald) finished third. All Star Fame and I’m For Sale completed the roster of fillies.

After the event, Hennessey related, “She’s just a very handy filly. She does anything asked of her and tonight was no exception.”

The win sent Gold Star Brianna’s earnings to $72,134 lifetime with the bulk of the lucrative Florida stakes season just ahead. Gold Star Brianna paid $2.20 to win.

In the Sunshsine State Stakes division for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Mike Richards’ Thundercrest, given a picture perfect journey by Dustin Ingraham, scored a handy win in a lifetime best 2:00.1. The son of Crest, unraced at two, earned his second win in 12 lifetime starts, scoring by 2-3/4 lengths over Rexamillion (Wally Hennessey) with Fifty Fifty Ninety (Jason MacDougall) next. The 1-2 betting favorite, Proud Joe T, finished fourth while Last Chance Fame picked up the minor award in the octet.

Thundercrest showed good speed from the gate and found a spot in third early as Proud Joe T left with alacrity for the lead before yielding to Rexamillion at the opening station in :30. The latter clocked reasonable panels of 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 as Thundercrest left his cozy spot to engage the leader turning for home and waltzed on by handily and with authority.

In the winner’s circle after the race, a modest Ingraham said, “We got a good trip. That’s about it. He’s got some talent and he seems to be improving every week.”

As second choice in the win pool, Thundercrest paid $5.60 to his faithful.

Two Sunshine State Stakes were held off the betting card and I’m Done and Atlantic Crest were victorious in their respective divisions.

In a budding rivalry in the 2-year-old event for trotting colts and geldings where only two combatants showed up, I’m Done, handled by Tom Lehmann, just did get by Azzaro (Jay Sears) in 2:04.2, knocking five full seconds off his former lifetime mark. Driver Lehmann stalked Sears’ colt through panels of :29.4, 1:01.2 and 1:33.4 before tilting out turning for home and just eking by at the wire. The winner, a son of Toro Bravo, is owned and trained by Troy Basista.

I’m Done and Azzaro now have met on four occasions — each now showing scorecards of 4-2-2-0.

In the Sunshine State Stake for juvenile trotting fillies, Atlantic Crest, owned, trained and driven by Sergio Corona, took command immediately from her outside four post and clocked fractions of :30, 1:00.3 and 1:31.2 before stopping the clock in 2:01.4 for her maiden win in her fourth start. Also by Crest, Atlantic Crest won by 7-1/4 lengths over Prairie Pixie (Mike Deters) with Bonnie Blue Banker (Rob Hoffman) third. Famous C finished fourth in the quartet after a miscue at the start.

Pompano Park’s Open I Pace went for the second straight week to All Steinam ($3.20) for John MacDonald in 1:53.3 — a gate-to-wire effort off of fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.2. The 7-year-old gelded son of Tell All pinned a defeat measuring three-parts of a length over the late charging Team Captain (Aaron Byron) with Safe Harbor (Kevin Wallis) third. Dee’s Rocketman was a fast closing fourth while Hillybilly completed the run-down.

For All Steinam, it was his 11th win off the year — 28th lifetime — to send his career bounty to $320,259. He’s banked $56,903 this year.

The win was one of three for MacDonald, who also scored with Sing For Me George ($2.60), his second straight win, in 1:53.2, and Beach Blast ($3.20) in 1:52.4.

Wally Hennessey also had three wins for the night, sweeping the early daily double with Highland Yankee ($2.80), the aforementioned Gold Star Brianna and completing the hat track with Cartoonist ($4.00) for the S S G Stables and trainer Jim McDonald. The win for the 6-year-old Cartoonist was his first in 23 starts this year and first since May 2, 2015.

Aaron Byron and Kevin Wallis had driving doubles on the card and trainers MacDonald and Dale Gilmour each sent out a pair of winners on the Sunday card.

Racing continues on Tuesday night with the Super Hi-5 finale now sporting a carryover jackpot of $6,853.98. Scheduled post time is 7:20 p.m.