by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — A flawless performance by 3-year-old filly trotter Pocohontas Fame on the final October program at The Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park capped an unforgettable weekend for the Amante Standardbreds Stable of Delray Beach, FL.

Skip Smith/Laptime Photo

Pocohontas Fame romped home in 1:59.4 in the $10,000 final of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Sunshine State Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters.

“To come up with three winners that we bred and raised in stakes finals in a twenty-four hour span is really special” Tony Amante observed after Pocohontas Fame romped home in 1:59.4 in the $10,000 final of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters. “She loves it here in Florida. She was the Florida Breeders’ champion last December as a two year old. We felt she was only mediocre at Saratoga in the summer months this year. Along with getting back to Florida, having Wally Hennessey as her regular driver again is a huge plus I believe” he added.

The daughter of Famously-Native Pine overcame an outside start in the field of nine to post fractions of 29.3, 1:00.3, and 1:30.3 before kicking home handily in 29.1. JP Spice with Tom Sells in tow and Prairie Treasure with Ray Vizzi could only follow ‘Pocohontas’ under the wire.

The other Saturday night winner for the Amante connections was in the Sunshine State Stakes Final 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. Be Famous, a Famously-Celebrity Descent gelding benefitted from a pocket trip behind Boot Scootin Yankee and driver Ronnie Morales to score in 1:58.4. Calvin and Gator with Tom Lehmann in the bike followed in for third.

“Be Famous has really improved since we made the decision to geld him last summer when he was racing at the New York state tracks” explains co-owner Christine Garrity of the Amante Stable. “He’s on a four race win streak since he’s returned to Florida. We feel fortunate to have both ‘Pocohontas’ and Be Famous racing with the trainer-driver team of Dan and Wally Hennessey” she added.

The wins by Pocohontas Fame and Be Famous were preceded by a Friday night track record performance by 2-year-old gelding trotter Famous Hall in 1:57.4 for the Amante connections in his two year old Sunshine State Stakes Final event.

In Saturday night’s 3-year-old colt and gelding pace final of the FSBOA’s Sunshine State Stakes, Diamond Howard was awesome in a 1:52.3 front end victory. The life’s mark performance by the Mannart Howard-Amethyst gelding was in rein to Bruce Ranger over stablemate Red Hot Howard (Walter Ross Jr.) and Stiletto Jake (Tom Sells). Michile Lorenzo trains Diamond Howard and shares ownership with Souren Hovsepian of Palm Beach, FL.

The 3-year-old filly pace final of the Sunshine State Stakes also went to a 1-9 favorite as Black Diamond Girl wired the field for driver Wally Hennessey in 1:55.2. The daughter of Six Of Diamonds-Money For Munchkin is trained by Kim Sears for Penny Kelly and Jay Sears and this was her 6th win in 10 starts this year. Tangerine, with Tom Sells driving, and Lady Luck Le Run in rein to Mike Micallef completed the top three.

Brown Executes A Shocker

The $12,000 purse co-featured pace on Saturday night for the top mares in South Florida saw a 20-1 shocking upset unfold as driver Doug Brown guided Samantha Q to victory in a life’s mark of 1:53.

After Mike Micallef fired Princess Michi to the lead just after the half of 56.2, Witch Trials with Dan Clements aboard came to battle first over to the last turn in 1:24.3. Turning for home, Brown tipped out from the perfect second over trip he’d found and Samantha Q paced clear late in the stretch past Princess Michi and Witch Trials. Edgar Clarke trains Samantha Q, a four year old daughter of Real Artist-Paige Nicole Q for Cheri Clarke of Sacramento, CA.