by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association’s Stallion Stakes came to a conclusion with a $28,500 purse for the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers in a non-wagering event before the 10-race regular card on Saturday (Oct. 15) at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Goldstar Raider was outstanding in a two move effort to stop the clock in a life’s mark performance of 1:54 over Diamond Cowboy (Wally Hennessey) and Last Chance T (Fern Paquet Jr.). Mike Micallef was in the bike for breeder, owner and trainer Tom Audley with Goldstar Raider, a gelded son of Rock On-Tony’s Silveraider.

The FSBOA’s Sales Stakes begin on Monday evening (Oct. 17) with only the Breeders Stakes remaining after that on the Nov. 5 Super Night at the South Florida plant.

The Oct. 15 program also witnessed the first night of the kind of major speed Pompano is often famous for with near tropical conditions prevailing. Half of the winners on the Saturday night card turned in lifetime best performances, and topping that list was Rick’s Sign with a dominant 1:51.2 spin in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Fern Paquet, Jr. was in the bike to to post fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.4 enroute to the 1:51.2 clocking. The Life Sign-Last Flower 6-year-old gelding is trained by Paul Holzman for owner Andrew Sassen. The life’s mark effort was the 11th win in 32 trips this year for Rick’s Sign and pushed his life’s earnings past $162,000. Tough Trooper with Wally Hennessey in tow followed in the pocket for second and Monet CC partnered by Kelly Case held third.

Pompano honors accompany speed

The Saturday program was accompanied by winner’s circle ceremonies to honor the top trainer and driver from last season in South Florida. Director of Racing Operations John Yinger made the commemorative trophy presentations to Peter Pellegrino and Wally Hennessey.

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

John Yinger (center) made trophy presentations to Peter Pellegrino (right) and Wally Hennessey (left).

“The racing here dollar for dollar is as tough as anywhere in the entire business and I’m expecting it to remain that way again for the upcoming season,” Pellegrino said in a live trackside TV interview. “Classifying your horses right means so much here at Pompano and I’d say it’s one of the most important aspects of racing a stable here.”

In the 2010-11 season, Pellegrino topped the trainers’ standings with 67 winners for purse earnings of more than $343,000.

“It’s coming up on the 25th anniversary that I first came to Pompano from Prince Edward Island just to see if I might be able to make it here,” driver Wally Hennessey observed when receiving his award. “It was great to win a drivers’ title here but I have to compliment my fellow driver Bruce Ranger for the way he’s come back from his injuries in April. He’s had a long run of titles here, too, and Bruce is at the top of a long list of guys that make this one of the best driving colonies anywhere to be found in harness racing.”

For the 2010-2011 campaign, Hennessey was atop the drivers’ standings with 239 wins for almost $1.4 million in purses.

Florida Amateur Drivers Club in action

FADC action showcased driver Jamie Marra as he reined Genesisjerseyspeed to his second straight victory in the FADC’s regular Saturday night event.

The SJ’s Double Take gelding pushed his lifetime earnings over the $92,000 level for trainer Marc Major. Marra picked up his second driving win in the amateur club events along a with third place finish since the FADC series resumed this fall.

Dein Spriggs was second with Bristy Crinkley for owner Stephen Oldford while Joe Pennacchio reported home third with his veteran campaigner and $100,000-plus winner Mr Taurus.

— Thomas Hicks also contributed to this report