by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Trot Monster established himself as the top Florida-bred 2-year-old male trotter at Pompano Park on Wednesday (August 1) when prevailing by a head over Southern Rain to capture the first marquee event on the calendar for juvenile colt and gelding trotters, the $35,075 Florida Stallion Stakes, in 2:01.3.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Trot Monster (#1) and Wally Hennessey hold off Southern Rain (#2) and Michael Deters to capture the $35,075 Florida Stallion Stakes for juvenile colt and gelding trotters.

Driven from post one by Wally Hennessey, Trot Monster was content to settle in the pocket as Ruby’s Jewell (Bruce Ranger) showed the way through opening fractions of :30.1 and 1:00.4.

As the field marched down the backstretch, Hennessey angled Trot Monster off the pylons to target the leader, and the pair of juvenile trotters moved in tandem past the three-quarter marker in 1:31.2, with Ruby’s Jewell reluctant to yield.

Trot Monster began to ease clear of a tiring Ruby’s Jewell through the final turn and entered the stretch with a half-length advantage, and held on gamely through the final yards to repel a late challenge from Southern Rain, who just missed at the wire.

Trot Monster returned $7.00, $3.20, $2.40 for the victory. Southern Rain brought in $5.00, $3.00 for second, while Ruby’s Jewell paid $2.10 for third.

Owned by John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee and trained by Kim Sears, Trot Monster has visited the winner’s circle in each of his last two starts, prevailing in last week’s $5,478 Sunshine State Stakes while also stopping the timer in 2:01.3.

Indigo Swirl proved once again that she is the class of the Florida-bred 2-year-old female trotting division when taking the evening’s first non-wagering event, a $23,750 division of the Florida Stallion Stakes for juvenile fillies.

Recently acquired by Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky, and trained by Tom Harmer, the daughter of Crown Cam covered the mile in 2:02.3 for driver Mickey McNichol to visit the winner’s circle for the fourth time in her brief career, and third consecutively. Guided Miss Tique (Stephan Lareau) finished second, while Dove Canyon (Gaston Lareau) was third.

Amante Standardbreds Inc.’s Famous Valentine captured the second $23,750 division for 2-year-old trotting fillies, as the daughter of Famously led at every call en route to a winning mile in 2:04.1 for trainer Dan Hennessey and driver Wally Hennessey. Streeter (Robert Williams, Jr.) crossed the wire second while Waving Glory (Jay Sears) finished third.

Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky’s Timer overcame an early break and an overland trip to prevail by a nose in the $26,700 Hurricane Series Trot for Florida-bred sophomore colts and geldings. Trained by Tom Harmer and driven by Bruce Ranger, the 3-year-old son of Guided Speed covered the mile in 2:00.1. Bull Durham (Dan Clements) and Smothers (Tom Sells) completed the top three.

Crown Candle ($25.60) prevailed in the final stakes event of the evening, the $28,500 Hurricane Series Trot for Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Owned by Ron Barnhard, Dorothy Haughton, and Mary Caputo, and trained and driven by Tom Haughton, the daughter of Crown Can was never headed while scoring an upset victory in 2:00. Race favorite Sweet Melissa (Kevin Wallis) crossed the wire second, while Desi’s Toy (Michael Deters) finished third.