by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – Saturday’s $160,200 final of the 7th annual Isle of Capri Pacing Series is not only the sports richest harness horse race to date in 2005, but it might also have its place in the history books among the great “Tale of Two Brothers” stories. Like Cain and Abel, Anubis and Bata, Romulus and Remus, Artesian and Maltese Artist, two equine brothers, meet on the racetrack in the 8th race feature.

Both stallions are sired by Artiscape from the Falcon Seelster mare, Hula Dancer. Artesian is the elder brother at age 5, and is owned and trained by Cosmo (Sam) DePinto of Cream Ridge, NJ. Maltese Artist, age 4, is trained by Mickey Burke and is co-owned by George Leon, John Howard and James Koran of PA, WV & OH respectively.

It is unique to see two full brothers do so well at the races and then again, to be facing each other in a major stakes event 1,200 miles from their respective home bases.

Artesian is the class of the field. A career winner of $860,000, he has a record of 1:49.2 taken last year at the Meadowlands. Artesian raced against many of the best pacers in North America in 2005. After a dismal eighth place finish in the opening round of the Isle of Capri in his first start after three-month layoff, Artesian rebounded from a perfect pocket trip last week and won in the second round in 1:51.3 for driver Bruce Ranger. In the final, Kevin Wallis will be in the sulky as Artesian starts from post six and is at odds of 9/2.

Maltese Artist won $204,000 last year and also took his 1:49.2 record mile at the Meadowlands, racing mainly in the New Jersey Sire Stakes. He is one of the youngest starters in the field. Last week he was put into a dogfight for control of the lead against Our Galvinator A and finished fifth. That was the same race that his brother Artesian won. But the week before in the opening round of the series, driver Richard Macomber, Jr. gave him a great come-from-behind drive to win by a nose in 1:51.1.

Racing fans will now just have to wait and see if this “Tale of Two Brothers” can go down in history as a memorable event. There are seven other starters in the field that may very well have something to say about it.

Driver Tony Morgan was given his choice of horses to drive in the Isle final by trainer Tom Harmer, who sends out the only entry in the race, He Wants It All (post 2) and Fox Valley Devious (post 9). Morgan, who during the series won elimination divisions with both horses, selected the obvious, He Wants It All, after winning from start to finish last week in 1:50.3. That mile, which was a lifetime record for He Wants It All, was also the fastest mile at Pompano Park this year. The all-age track record at Pompano Park is 1:49.4 set by Parson’s Den and trainer/driver Joe Anderson in the inaugural Isle of Capri Pace in 1999.

Track Notes: Turn It On, after competing against male rivals the past two weeks with one victory in 1:53.3, returns to the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace Friday, taking on six rivals in the 7th race $9,000 feature. Starting from post seven for driver Bruce Ranger, Turn It On is the 9/5 favorite shooting for her third victory in five starts in 2005. Her main rival will be Tasma Walton A from post three for driver Wally Hennessey and two newcomers to Pompano Park, Jus’ Cillin Out (post 1) and Pownal (post 5).