by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Rod Lorenzo said it was human scheduling, and not equine, that resulted in a two week gap in the schedule of his stable’s stalwart Gale Warning. The veteran trotter in fact seemed to enjoy the extra rest as he romped home in the $12,000 featured trot on the mid-week program (Nov. 3) at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

Gale Warning showed no signs of rust from a two week layoff when capturing the $12,000 featured trot.

“Some would have been skeptical about him tonight with that two week interval in his schedule, but that was because of me and not Gale Warning at all,” the trainer said after the 11th win in 26 trips this year for the 7-year-old Strong Gale-Liz’s Promise gelding.

“It was a simple matter of me being up at the sale in Indiana last week and we don’t like to enter him when I’m not here. He’s a really big horse and got over that wet track tonight really great. When (driver) Tom Sells had him at the half in :58.4 I felt pretty certain he’d finish it out on top. He’s won with 14 days or more between starts before and I’m sure he will many more times too before his career is through.”

In the handicap event in which all post positons were assigned, Andover America (in rein to Bruce Ranger) started outside in the field of seven and got away into fourth position. In the final half Andover America fired up without cover but could not get past the wheel of Gale Warning. McCoy, partnered by Wally Hennessey, had the pocket trip and settled for third.

Gale Warning now sports a season’s bankroll of $127,720 and life’s earnings in excess of $456,000. Lorenzo shares ownership with Ciro Gentile.

Another nice honor for “Dr Cal”

The trotter named in honor of Dr. Calvin Stiller earned a fast mark on the Nov. 3 program in South Florida. The equine accomplishment was a fitting tribute adding to the incredibly long list of honors bestowed upon one of Canada’s leading medical scientists and pioneers.

Dr. Stiller and his wife Angie are also prominent Standardbred breeders, owners and promoters of harness racing in their travels from their home base at Arva, Ontario, just north of London.

In the non-winners of six races lifetime conditioned test, Dr Cal was settled into fourth position on the sloppy track as Ruby’s Jewell and driver Richard Simard hustled through fast fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:27.1. When the leader made a break in stride early in the final turn, Dr Cal was moved to the outside and finally surged to the front in late stretch. He won the photo in a life’s mark of 1:56.1 over an onrushing Super Lotto, driven by Wally Hennessey, with Doc’s All Class and Marc Major a close third. It was one of five winners on the night reined in by Bruce Ranger.

Although his achievements in the medical field are far too numerous to list here, Dr. Calvin Stiller is a 2010 Inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, the Chair of the Board of the Ontario Institute For Cancer Research, a member of the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

The 4-year-old Angus Hall-Armbro Sylvie gelding was bred by Angie Stiller in tandem with the Robert McIntosh Stables and CSX Stables. At Pompano, Dr Cal is now racing from the care of owner Mario Dessureault. The promising trotter has a season’s bankroll of over $31,000 and life’s earnings of almost $65,000.

Next up on Friday night (Nov. 5) is a featured $12,000 event for the top mares in South Florida. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EDT) each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening, with Tuesday programs added to the schedule from December through March at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.