by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — Pompano Park race secretary John Yinger has assembled a top flight field of nine trotters, including both world and track record holders, that will battle Wednesday in the seventh race $8,000 Open Handicap. Heading the field is the return of world record holder Chucaro Ahijuna from post five for trainer/driver Paul Bernardo. Back on April 14, Chucaro Ahijuna became the all-time world record holding double gaited harness horse after winning on the trot in 1:55.1, which also tied him for the track record for older stallions. His record on the pace was 1:51.4. He has since lowered that world mark, winning at Woodbine Racetrack in 1:53.3 on August 26. Chucaro Ahijuna, a seven-year-old Argentinean bred trotter, is owned by the Berry Stables of Staten Island, New York and has amassed an impressive record of 13 wins in 17 starts this year. In his last start on September 21, Chucaro Ahijuna won an $18,000 trot at Mohawk Racetrack in 1:55.1. He is listed as the second choice in the race at odds of 3-1. The 5-2 favorite is the track record holder older gelding at Pompano Park and last weeks Open Class winner, Ultimate Sundance. Trained and driver by Bruce Ranger for owner Mike Biel of Ft. Lauderdale, Ultimate Sundance returned from summer vacation racing at Rockingham Park in New England in peak form, ending Midgie’s seven-race winning streak with a 1:58.2 triumph. He starts from post six. Five of the nine horse in the Open Trot Wednesday are return winners, including former track record holder and Mack Lobell Trot winner Damon Runyon in post seven for driver David Ingraham. Daymon Runyon is coming off a great summer season at Plainridge Racecourse and in his last start he wired the field in 1:55.2 for his seventh win on the year for trainer Larry Nichols and owner Carol Karter of Lake Worth, Florida. Other return winners include Who’s The Duck (post four) in 1:57.4 and Clare’s Guy (post one) in 1:59.4. Completing the well matched field are Midgie (post nine), the winningest horse this year with 12 wins, Muscle Boss Vita (post eight), Mighty Maori A (post three) and Wedding Sun N (post two).