by Steve Wolf, director of marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The $400,000 Florida Sunshine Stakes for two and three-year-old state-bred trotters and pacers gets underway at Pompano Park on Wednesday with six divisions for two and three-year-old trotters.

The filly pacers compete on Friday in three divisions and the colt pacers race Saturday. The five-week series culminates the week of September 21 with the $100,000 Sunshine Stakes Finals.

The top trotter entered from last season is Dee Day Fame, who starts from post one in the fifth race Sunshine division for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Last year the son of Famously, bred and owned by Christine Garrity and Anthony Amante of Delray Beach, scored seven wins in 11 starts, with earnings of nearly $67,000 and a record of 2:00.4. He also shared with Florida Boy in the $100,000 bonus award from the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) and Pompano Park for winning all four FSBOA Finals.

He takes on recent winner Railee Possible (post two) and driver Daryl Bier. Undefeated this year after two starts, Railee Possible is coming off a four and one-half length triumph in a lifetime best clocking of 1:59.2.

Two of the top contenders in the three-year-old filly trot series, Doc’s Krista and What A Pearl, drew separate divisions and are featured in the sixth and ninth races.

Doc’s Krista starts from post two in the sixth race for driver Wally Hennessey. Last year the daughter of Guided Speed posted three wins with earnings of $50,000. Her biggest score came in the $63,000 final of the Florida Breeders Stake, beating What A Pearl by a nose. She is owned and bred by Andrew Michael Roberts of Lexington, Kentucky.

What A Pearl, who missed out on sharing the $100,000 bonus award last year after her nose loss to Doc’s Krista, heads the ninth race Sunshine Stakes division. She starts from post two for driver Jay Sears and won seven of her nine starts last year, with earnings of $48,000 for breeder/owner Richard Gaucher of Boynton Beach. She prepped for the series with a 2:02.3 qualifying win.

A track records of sorts will take place on Wednesday as nine of the 13 races (one race is non-wagering) are trotting events. It will be the most trotting races ever on a single program at Pompano Park.