by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – February 2, 2004 – ICU Jessie ($4.20, $3.20, $2.40) stamped himself as the horse to beat in the $60,000 11th annual Artsplace Pacing Series at Pompano Park Monday, winning the second round of the series in a lifetime best time of 1:52.2.

Driven by Kevin Wallis, ICU Jessie led from start to finish in the $6,500 4th race, winning by one and one-quarter lengths for owners Diane Norris and Glifford Grundy. It was ICU Jessie’s second straight win in the series. Hearty Fellow (Marc Aubin) made a strong move at the three-quarters and rallied to finish second with It’s The Paper Boy (Bruce Ranger) making the most of a two-hole trip to finish third.

ICU Jessie, a four-year-old gelding by Camluck, cut fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24 for his second straight win and fifth triumph in his past eight starts for trainer Gordon Norris.

World record holder Kadijah ($11.80, $5.20) and driver Bruce Ranger were able to take full advantage of a two-hole trip behind Jenelle Mindale in capturing the 10th race $9,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.3.

The race starts off with Kadijah taking the early lead only to be passed by Jenelle Mindale and driver Richard Macomber, Jr. by the opening quarter mile in :27.1. Jenelle Mindale then cut the mile to the half in :57.1 and the three-quarters in 1:25.2 as Big Duchess (George Napolitano, Jr.) swung three-wide to challenge.

As they started down the stretch, Ranger made his move with Kadijah and they sprinted away to a one and one-quarter length victory. Big Duchess closed well to be second with Jenelle Mindale third.

It was the second win this year for Kadijah, a six-year-old mare by Jerry’s Cadet who is trained by Larry Nichols and is owned by Carol Karter of Lake Worth, Florida.

Track Superintendant Randy Dawson had the Pompano Park oval in super good shape after a weekend of rain with seven of the eleven race winners Monday scoring lifetime marks.