by John Berry, for the FSBOA and Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Though the Pompano Park pari-mutuel meeting begins on Oct. 21, the lucrative Florida stakes program gets underway on Saturday (Oct. 6) at that famed five-eighths-mile oval with the 2- and 3-year-olds competing in the Sunshine State Stakes.

The 2-year-old trotting fillies will be first to turn to the Brownlee Starting gate at 11 a.m. with Kerry B coming into the action with the most experience with eight starts already and a winning mark of 2:00.4 over the fast Vernon Downs seven-eighths oval. Trained by Kim Sears for husband Jay, the daughter of Muscle Mass has been race-timed in 1:58.1 in finishing a fast closing second.

The event for juvenile pacing fillies features Natasha, a daughter of Six Of Diamonds, who already owns a mark of 1:54.3, achieved in just her third lifetime pari-mutuel start. Trainer Kim Sears seems “not-at-all” surprised that Natasha has been so fast so early saying, “She is one of those rare fillies that relaxes and is well mannered and bred very well as Six Of Diamonds is her daddy — and he had a mark of (1):49 and a piece and her mommy, Lucy Lucy, was very prominent in her racing days, so I am not-at-all surprised at her talent.”

The event for 3-year-old trotting fillies features last season’s Super Night champion, I Rhoda Daley, and runner-up, Jennifer. Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey is expected to be in I Rhoda Daley’s sulky for trainer John Hallett and owner Lee Clarke.

In the event for sophomore trotting colts, last year’s Super Night winner Captain Thomas will match strides with Brian and Dangerous Mood. Trained by Dan Hennessey for owner John Campagnuolo, Captain Thomas will be driven by Wally Hennessey. Brian, third on Super Night last season to the winner, and Dangerous Mood, undefeated in only three lifetime starts, should provide some serious competition in that event.

A well matched quartet is set to go postward in the event for sophomore pacing fillies with last year’s champion Krinda matching strides with Starcasim, Diamond Eyes and Clever Calee. Krinda is expected to be driven by Wally Hennessey for trainer Kim Sears and owner Jay Sears.