by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The unbeaten juvenile filly Alice Springs will look to keep her perfect record intact on Friday (July 20) when she starts in the $5,380 opening round of the Sunshine State Stakes for 2-year-old Florida-bred female pacers, the last of three non-wagering events that will be held at Pompano Park prior to the 13-race pari-mutuel program.

Owned by Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky, and trained by Tom Harmer, Alice Springs swept through the Seminole Series for 2-year-old fillies with successive victories, prevailing in the opening leg on June 29 in 1:59.3 before putting together a winning mile in 1:56.3 to capture the $21,150 final on July 13.

Alice Springs has drawn post five for Friday’s race and the daughter of first-crop sire N Aboriginal will be driven by Wally Hennessey.

Also returning for the opening round of the Sunshine State Stakes is Allee T. The daughter of Raging Glory has finished second to Alice Springs in each of her two career outings, most recently beaten a neck in the Seminole Series Final.

Owned by Jay Sears, John Campagnuolo, Anthony Andretta, and Dianne Mouw, and trained by Kim Sears, Allee T starts from post four in Friday’s opening round of the Sunshine State Stakes and will be driven by Bruce Ranger.

Sophomore pacing fillies are featured in the first two non-wagering Sunshine State Stakes on Friday, with the first event highlighted by a battle between Leavembehind, a six-time winner in 2006 with $52,041 in seasonal earnings, and Lucy Lucy, who also visited the winner’s circle six times during her juvenile campaign while netting $40,243 in purse money.

Miss Top Flight, the winner of last year’s $66,763 Sunshine State Stakes Final for juvenile female pacers, takes center stage in the evening’s second division for the 3-year-old set. The daughter of Mean Mr Mustard will face six rivals, including Flutterbutt, a two-time winner from 2006 that earned $25,260 during her 2-year-old season.

Older pacing mares to meet in Friday feature

With Velvet Eileen sitting out this week’s $15,500 Fillies and Mares Winners Over Handicap Pace, My Metallica and Tintabella N, who were separated by a head when finishing second and third in their most recent encounter, will take their turn in the spotlight when starting in the Friday feature at Pompano.

Owned by Ciara Stable, Michael Polansky, and William Johnston III, and trained by Tom Harmer, My Metallica has drawn post seven and will be driven by Wally Hennessey, who was at the controls when the mare last visited the winner’s circle on May 25.

A seven-time winner this year, Tintabella N is currently in the midst of a minor five-race skid and has not crossed the wire first since a victory on June 1 when the Jenny Bier-trainee prevailed in 1:54.4.

Tintabella N will start from post five on Friday for the ownership of Glenn Del Russo and Daryl Bier, who will also be at the lines of the 6-year-old mare.