by Frank Salive, publicity director, The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — After surpassing $50 million in career driving purse earnings in 2009, another career milestone is at hand for Hall of Fame reinsman Wally Hennessey.

A win on the Monday, Jan. 25, card at The Isle Pompano Park with 3-year-old gelding Memphis Monster brought the 53-year-old reinsman’s total to 7,497 lifetime winning drives.

The seasonal competitor at Pompano splits his annual schedule between South Florida and Saratoga Harness. He also frequently returns to his hometown of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to drive during Old Home Week in August and in the Gold Cup And Saucer.

Bardier’s base broadening

Horseman Stephane Bardier of Montreal can now add Ontario trainer Tony Montini to the list of clients he’s training for this meet in South Florida.

On the Jan. 25 program, trotter Just A Lad made his debut from Bardier’s barn at the Isle. The 13-year-old Earl-Just One Night gelding is a career winner of $715,000 and hadn’t raced since Nov. 10 at Georgian Downs. He finished sixth in the $10,000 claiming trot event for owner Albina Montini.

Bardier, 44, arrived at the Isle last Fall with the Florida contingent of Canadian trainer Richard Moreau. That stable was reduced by one when pacer Paragon, the 2006 winner of the Cam Fella Series final at Woodbine, was claimed away for a pricetag of $10,000 last Saturday night.

Bardier also resumed driving duty this month and picked up his first win in the bike for the 2009-2010 meet at the Isle with 8-year-old trotter Travelin Lite.