by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The intrigue is mounting and the time is drawing closer to the answer to the $100,000 question in Florida — can 2-year-old trotting filly Seeking Jeanie remain undefeated through the Dec. 11 Super Night at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park?

“I’m trying not to think that far ahead. At the moment I’m just focused on getting back to the paddock with (trainer Jim McDonald) to give her the cookies and carrots she likes every night,” owner and breeder Arthur Mergenhagen said in a live TV post-race interview after Seeking Jeanie stepped to victory in the $18,800 Florida Sale Stake. “The excitement about her is building and we had family members down from Arizona and Buffalo, N.Y. to see her for the first time. In almost 35 years in the business, since I started at the Buffalo-Batavia circuit in 1976, this is the greatest ride I’ve ever had with a horse that I owned or bred.

The daughter of Wesgate Storm-Sightseek was sent to the top in this event by Wally Hennessey in :30 and she controlled the tempo of the middle stages in 1:02 and 1:32.3.

Seeking Jeanie handily put away the first over move of Brielle T, in rein to Robert Hoffman, and held safe over runner-up Little Peanut, driven by Robert Williams, Jr. Following third under the wire was Trotting For Daddy, partnered by Donald Dupont. The final quarter by Seeking Jeanie was in a flashy :29.4 in this life’s mark performance of 2:02.2.

Since Seeking Jeanie has swept the Sunshine State Stake, Florida Stallion Stake and now the Florida Sale Stake she’s eligible for the $100,000 bonus offered by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association if she can capture the Florida Breeders Stake on the Dec. 11 Super Night championships for the state-bred program.

Ranger: Strength in numbers in top trot class

Bruce Ranger, the top driver in the 47-year history of harness racing at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, has developed a formidable 1-2 punch in the track’s top trotting class that’s proving tough to beat.

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

Keystone Thomas (#5) converted a pocket trip into a life’s mark 1:54.4 win over favored Gale Warning (#6) in the $12,000 top trot.

On the Nov. 24 program in the featured $12,000 winners over $10,000 lifetime handicap trot, Ranger worked out a perfect pocket trip for Keystone Thomas on the back of race favorite Gale Warning, in rein to Tom Sells. By mid-stretch Keystone Thomas had edged by and froze the clock in 1:54.4 for a life’s mark. Senator Hall, with Mickey McNichol in the bike, was well back in third and another newcomer to the South Florida meet, Cool Touch, was fourth for driver Chuck Connor, Jr.

“I really was never sure Keystone Thomas could beat a great veteran like Gale Warning who has almost $500,000 on his card and this is a bit of a nice surprise,” Ranger said upon his return for the winner’s photograph.

The 4-year-old Revenue S-Yankee Taboo gelding thus recorded his 11th win in 24 trips this year. Stewart Nemiro trains Keystone Thomas for the Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach, Fla.

When racing resumes at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing on Friday evening (Nov. 26), a pair of non-wagering divisions of the FSBOA Sale Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies will turn to the gate at 6:30 p.m. (EST) before the 10-race regular program at 7:05 p.m.