by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — All Charged Up and Boli took their respective Open events at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (Oct. 11) but they had to share the spotlight with Walter Ross Jr., who made yet another triumphant return to the sulky after being sidelined by a personal issue.

The Junior Ross scored with Marianne Audley’s Gold Star Aurora, a talented 3-year-old daughter of Rock On, in 1:58.2-:27.1, pinning a four length defeat on Prairie Cowgirl (Jim Meittinis) with Golden Diamond (James Hysell) next in a non-wagering Sunshine State Stake for sophomore pacing fillies.

It was Walter’s first time back in the race bike since late May as he coped with the passing of his daughter.

This was not the first time that he has come back from adversity. Several years ago, after a debilitating illness almost took his life, he fought back to score a win in his return to the racing wars several months later.

Trainer Maggie Audley was ecstatic after Gold Star Aurora’s win saying, “I am happy for this win with ‘Aurora,’ but I am even happier for Junior. He’s such a grand horseman and gentleman. He’s just an amazing man and I am so proud of him winning his first race back.”

For Gold Star Aurora, last year’s Super Night champion in her class for 2-year-old pacing fillies, the victory kept her 2017 season perfect at two-for-two with her career earnings now at $63,936 with a lifetime scorecard now 8-1-0 in nine starts.

Other sophomore Sunshine State Stakes winners prior to the betting card were Atlantic Crest, I’m Done and Prairie Panther.

Atlantic Crest, owned, trained and driven by Sergio Corona, blasted out from the wings of the starting gate and posted fractions of :29.3, :58.3 and 1:28 before an effortless :29.4 sprint home stopped the timer at 1:57.4 — her margin being 13 lengths over Prairie Pixie (Meittinis) with Famous C (Wally Hennessey) third.

Atlantic Crest, a daughter of Crest, pushed her career earnings close to $80,000 with the win — $79,924 to be precise — with her 11th lifetime win in 28 starts.

I’m Done, a gelded son of Toro Bravo trained by Jim McDonald for owner Troy Basista, evened the score with arch-rival Azzaro, scoring a well rated 2:02-:28.1 win for John MacDonald. Azzaro (Wally Hennessey) gave futile chase to no avail in the lane after I’m Done posted front end fractions of :31, 1:02.3 and 1:33.4.

I’m Done and Azzaro now have faced each other 12 times in a rivalry that dates back to last season and each now has a 6-6-0 scorecard.

I’m Done now has earnings of $73,748 with the win.

Prairie Panther, a gelded son of Royel Millennium owned by Laurie Poulin along with trainer Mike Deters, scored his second straight win in Sunshine State Stakes action with a very sharp 1:56.3-:27.3 win for Jim Meittinis. Maybe Ned (Bryce Fenn) was second while Fabiano (Hennessey) finished third after poking his head in front around the final turn.

Prairie Panther bulked his career earnings up to $67,070 in 14 starts, nine of which are wins.

In the Open Pace for mares, All Charged Up, with John MacDonald in the bike, pulled off a minor upset as this 6-year-old daughter of Ponder rallied once they straightened away for home and collared the 1-10 favorite, Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey), to score by three-parts of a length in 1:52.2.

Owned by J P Stables, All Charged Up left sharply from her six post and took command at the :27 opener, only to yield to Godiva Seelster shortly thereafter. During the second panel, Fern Paquet Jr. sent Embassy Seelster on the prowl and she raced alongside the leader through a half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.2. In the lane, All Charged Up found the seam and rallied to take command a sixteenth from home.

“She’s a rugged thing,” related driver John MacDonald referring to All Charged Up, “but so is Wally’s great mare (Godiva Seelster). We just were lucky enough to draft along and that was the difference.”

All Charged Up won for the fifth time this year in 13 starts, good for $30,660. Lifetime, the mare has chalked up 28 wins in 114 starts with this win vaulting her bounty over the $250,000 plateau — $254,082 to be exact.

Goldstar Rockette (Fenn) finished third while Embassy Seelster and Isley picked up the minor awards.

All Charged Up, the 7-2 second choice, paid $9.40 to win.

The Open Handicap Trot went to Boli, handled by Wally Hennessey. This 5-year-old gelded son of Kadabra overcame the eight post and bolted right to the front, posting fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:27 before sprinting through some raindrops coming home in :28.4 to score a handy 4-1/4 length win over Winemaster Hanover (Brady Galliers) with Zoraze (Paquet, Jr.) third. Prairie Fortune did trot the fastest final panel of this group (:28.2) but couldn’t overcome the outside nine post and finished fourth. Explosive Drama picked up the nickel.

Trained by Dan Hennessey for Paul and Patricia O’Neil, Boli won for the ninth time this semester in 21 starts, good for $72,470. Lifetime, Boli has two dozen wins in 69 starts and a bankroll of $209,664. As the 3-5 toteboard favorite, Boli returned $3.40 to win.

Racing resumes Sunday night with a trio of carryovers highlighting the “better for the bettor” action. The Pick-6 has a carryover of $347, the Super Hi-5 finale has a holdover of $1,490.57 and, since the final race superfecta on Wednesday night was left unscathed, there is a carryover of $3,098 going into the first race superfecta on Sunday night. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.