by Frank Salive

Pompano Beach, FL — When 4-year-old pacing mare Samantha Q went a big first-over trip to capture a $6,000 purse conditioned event in 1:53.4 on the October 18 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park it gave driver Doug Brown occasion to search his memory banks for just when his last win was in South Florida.

“It was about 14 years ago in 1996 when Royal Mattjesty won the Matron Stakes here that I last visited the winner’s circle at Pompano” Brown said. “It’s a relief to get this first one out of the way. (Trainer) Edgar Clarke had this mare just super tonight and I’m really enjoying the whole package of moving here to train and drive for the coming season” the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame inductee added.

Samantha Q, the only mare in the field, was out and moving well before the half and raced up alongside the tempo setting Four Starz Delivery with Bruce Ranger in tow before finally edging past by a slim margin in the closing strides. Ownership of the daughter of Real Artist-Paige Nicole Q is held by Cheri Clarke of Sacramento, CA.

Clements, JJ’s Gazette best at Pompano on Monday Evening

It hasn’t taken driver Dan Clements long to pick up from where he left off in South Florida last May at the end of last season. He topped the driving colony with a three win performance on the Monday evening, October 18 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Skip Smith/Lap Time photo

JJ’s Gazette rallied from a pocket trip to win the $12,000 purse feature pace.

“I have to give JJ’s Gazette the credit, he pulled me out of there just great to get that pocket trip” Clements said after the 1:52.2 mild upset in the $12,000 purse featured winners-over pace. “Those horses like the favorite Billonthehill A that had been up in the $75,000 claimers at Yonkers are going to be tough to beat soon…we were lucky to sit on his back all the way and we might have caught him just a bit short in his first start here.”

After Clements and JJ’s Gazette surged to the lead in the final eighth of the mile, Tough Trooper was urged through on the inside by Wally Hennessey to take down the place prize with Billonthehill A partnered by Mike Micallef a solid third. JJ’s Gazette was making his first start back in the care of trainer David Mogan after a late summer campaign at The Meadows. The 8-year-old Whiteland Fella-Almahurst Gazette gelding is owned by Kenneth Freeman of Coconut Creek, FL.

“It’s sure great to be back in Florida and I hope to stay here right through the end of the Meet next May” Clements added in his post-race live TV interview. “I had a different sort of summer back in Ontario in 2010, I didn’t travel around like I used to and I focused just on Georgian Downs. Whether I stay in Florida for this whole meet is a point of discussion with my wife Mary at this stage” Clements added.