by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — It was billed as a classic match-up and it turned out to be a classic finish as Paper Exchange ($3.60), the gelding, brought an end to Amethyst’s eight race winning streak with a slim nose victory over the filly in the sixth race $11,500 final of the Sandpiper Pacing Series for Florida-bred three-year-olds at Pompano Park on Wednesday. Trained and driven to victory by Bruce Ranger for breeder/owner Fred
The featured race saw Flight Of Glory (Mike Deters) shoot out to the early lead from the rail with Diamond Jack challenging but then backing into the pocket by the opening quarter-mile in :27.2. They raced Indian-style to the half in :57.3 with Paper Exchange in fourth place and Amethyst in fifth place.
But the second they entered the backstretch, Ranger made his move with Paper Exchange and Wally Hennessey followed the flow with Amethyst. Ranger had Paper Exchange in high gear and they cleared to the lead after the three-quarters in 1:26 with Amethyst parked on the outside but gaining ground.
As they came down the stretch, Amethyst looked to maybe have the edge as the two horses raced neck and neck but with 30 feet to the wire, Paper Exchange dug in and just held off the filly to win in the photo finish.
“Boy that was a close finish,” Bruce Ranger said. “I thought I had Wally’s filly but I really was not sure. I think the key to our victory was being able to clear to the front right at the final turn. I was able to park them on the turn and get a little edge as we started down the stretch. I know I have a nice colt but that Amethyst is one tough filly.”
For Amethyst, it was her first loss in her last 20 starts at Pompano. It was the first time she has ever finished second in a race and now has a lifetime record of 26 starts, 21 wins, one second and one third place finish.
Both Paper Exchange and Amethyst will return next week but will be racing in separate divisions of the Florida Breeders Stakes.
It was a night of second place finishes for driver Wally Hennessey as in the first race $9,900 final of the Everglade Trotting Series for state-bred three-year-olds, Sudden Speed ($6.00) upset 1-5 race favorite and pacesetter Wyatt in the final strides to the wire, winning by a neck in a lifetime best 1:57.4.
Owned, trained and driven to victory by Terry McIntyre of Boca Raton, it was the seventh win this year for Sudden Speed. Wyatt (Wally Hennessey) was a game second with Dream On Avery (Jay Sears) third.
Yankee Frisbee ($3.00) is now the top dog in the win streak column as the three-year-old gelding by Conway Hall posted his eighth straight win Wednesday, capturing the 11th race trot by one and three-quarter lengths over Franky Bytes (George Napolitano, Jr.) and Source Of Luck (Kevin Wallis). Trained and driven to victory by Bruce Ranger, Yankee Frisbee is also owned by Fred Monteleone and set a lifetime mark with his 1:57 triumph.
Bruce Ranger continued his dominance as the leading driver at Pompano Park with four winners on the card.
Pompano Park will be completely closed Thanksgiving Day. Live racing, poker and simulcasting resumes at 12:00 noon Friday.