by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — With one swift move at the start of Monday’s (April 9) $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot at Pompano Park, Battleshoe Victor took command of the race and never looked back, scoring his fourth victory of the year while covering the mile in 1:55.4.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Battleshoe Victor, driven by Bruce Ranger, wins the feature race at Pompano Park on Monday, the $10,000 Isle Mile I Trot, in 1:55.4.

Starting from post five with Bruce Ranger at the lines, Battleshoe Victor was quick off the gate to make the lead in the opening stages of the Monday feature, taking the field through an opening quarter in :28.3.

Battleshoe Victor continued to trot confidently on the lead through a half-mile in :58.4, before moving down the backstretch in full command of the race, passing the three-quarters in 1:27.2.

Battleshoe Victor entered the stretch with a 1-1/2 length advantage over the pocket-sitting Rovasreadytorumble (Wally Hennessey), and was never challenged down the lane en route to a 2-1/4 length victory over Railee Possible (David Ingraham), who closed from seventh.

Battleshoe Victor returned $2.80, $2.40, $2.10 for the win. Railee Possible brought in $5.00, $2.10 for second, while Rovasreadytorumble paid $2.10 for third.

Owned by Michael Polansky and trained by Tom Harmer, Battleshoe Victor has won four of 11 starts at Pompano this year, in addition to a second place finish in the $77,800 Mack Lobell Trotting Series Final.

The 5-year-old Illinois-bred son of Valley Victor has prevailed in 16 of 37 starts during his career and has a lifetime bankroll of $141,455.

Chucaro Ahijuna wins seasonal debut

The Argentinean-bred Chucaro Ahijuna ($20.40), winner of the $80,000 Mack Lobell Trotting Series Final in 2005, won his 10-year-old debut on Monday when taking the $5,500 seventh race trot at Pompano Park in 1:58.1.

After an extended first-over journey, Chucaro Ahijuna benefited from a late break in stride by race favorite Fimo to claim the lead in mid-stretch, and then trot home to a 1-1/2 length victory.

Owned by the Berry Stables of Staten Island, N.Y., and trained by Paul Bernardo, Chucaro Ahijuna was making his first pari-mutuel start since taking a winners over event at Tioga Downs on September 1, 2006. The double-gaited son of Noble Speedster qualified twice at Pompano this year prior to his Monday appearance.

Chucaro Ahijuna holds a lifetime trotting mark of 1:53.3, set in the 2005 Mack Lobell final. His career best pacing mile of 1:51.4 came in February of 2003 at Pompano, one week after competing in the Isle of Capri Pacing Series.

Chucaro Ahijuna’s combined double-gaited clocking of 3:45.2 is a world record.