Pompano Beach, FL — The script couldn’t have been written better for the supremely patient horseman Dan Daley to capture the $50,000 Bernard Goldstein Memorial Invitational Pace on Saturday, February 6, at the Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park.

Skip Smith/Lap Time photo

A patient drive from fourth over by Dan Daley resulted in a 1:51.3 win for Daley Deposit Only in the $50,000 Bernard Goldstein Memorial Invitational Pace on February 6 at the Isle Casino Racing at Pompano Park.

From the split second the gate swung away on the breezy 68 degree (20 C.) night in South Florida, it was apparent the eight horse field comprised of the best pacers at the current meet were going to put on a hotly contested show. Sugar’s Pride, with Wally Hennessey in tow, swept over to the lead from the outside post to post the front quarter of 26.1. That left one of the favorites, Cammabis with Anthony Napolitano, parked out for the opening three-eighths before they finally cleared and posted a half in 55.1. In the backstretch, Four Starz Bling with George Napolitano Jr. fired to the front just before the third marker in 1:22.3, with Vapor In The Wind and Ricky Macomber Jr. tracking the cover. Into the stretch, Daley Deposit Only swept up widest of all after sitting seventh in the earlier stages to win with daylight to spare in 1:51.3. Four Starz Bling clung to second while Vapor In The Wind stayed for third.

“I knew they were going a lot up front but have to admit I wondered if I could reach them when sitting fourth over” trainer and driver Dan Daley explained in his live post-race trackside TV interview. “Plus, we had to tip three-wide a little earlier than I really wanted to. He’s just a nice Open class horse that fired at the right time tonight. He makes us money but he can’t withstand many tough trips like that in a row.”

The Artiscape-Sassy Cessiann 5-year-old gelding is owned by Ann-Mari and Jared Daley along with Richard Lombardo and Robert Pergament. It was the 15th career win for the former Breeders Crown starter in his 2-year-old campaign, and this win increased his career bankroll to more than $163,000.

There was also a pair of $30,000 purse undercard top class races on the Bernard Goldstein Memorial card at the Isle.

In the Fillies and Mares Open Pace, former Florida Breeders champion Bling, with David Ingraham in the bike, rode a pocket trip behind Esmeralda Semalu with her usual pilot Joe Pavia Jr. ‘Esmeralda’ set controlling fractions of :27, 56.4, and 1:24.2 and the two frequent rivals were set down for a stretch long bitter duel to the end. Bling got the nod in the photo as the wire arrived in 1:53.1 over Esmeralda Semalu, with Flip For Love and Wally Hennessey safely back in third.

“It was another great effort for her but Bling will stay in Florida, she won’t be shipping up north to race” trainer Mark Friedman said after the latest conquest by the 4-year-old daughter of Scoot Outa Reach-C The Glory owned by Polo Stables of Boca Raton. “She was bred here, she races here, she lives here, and so she’ll stay here” he added of the career winner of over $123,000.

In the Open Trot, even money favorite Andover America was placed up to first after a stretch violation saw Mr. Tasty finish 1st in 1:56.3 but placed back to 5th for bearing into the paths of Talk About Me and Gale Warning. “I’m not usually this lucky to be placed up for the win” said driver Bruce Ranger. “Andover America is in a time of high confidence right now and with this horse so much of it is mental. Not that long ago we were ready to quit with him altogether. He got a mark (1:55.1) last week and he’s not the type to take a lot of weeks in a row of hard trips like this where he does a lot of the work” Ranger added of the Andover Hall-Armbro Array 5-year-old gelding owned by Mc Trade Enterprises of Davie, FL.

Andover America thus increased his career earnings to over $152,000. Because Mr. Tasty was placed back to 5th, Talk About Me with Anthony Napolitano was placed up to second and McCoy, in rein to George Napolitano Jr., was placed up to third.