by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – February 5, 2005 – The hooves were flying at Pompano Park Saturday as Isle of Capri Month got underway with Santastic’s Pan and Daylon Trooper scoring decisive victories in winning their divisions of the Isle of Capri Pacing Series Preview and Hellva Hush mowing down a field of 10 rivals in the Mack Lobell Preview. Each of the three Preview divisions raced for a purse of $15,000.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Walter Ross, Jr. is interviewed in the winner’s circle Saturday at Pompano Park. More than $25,000 was raised for Ross to help with his medical needs after major abdominal surgery.

But the focal point of the evening was the month-long fund raiser for Pompano Park horseman, Walter Ross, Jr., with a winner’s circle presentation of $25,000 from the horsemen, employees, vendors, friends and patrons at Pompano Park.

Ross, who is recovering from his first major surgery for problems resulting from Diverticulitis, is preparing for another surgery and does not have medical insurance.

Everyone at the track and across the world had rallied to his aid with donations. Every horse that competed Saturday was sponsored. Every race was sponsored. There was a special horsemen’s raffle for a dozen prizes including a new race bike, sets of harness and a trip to the Bahamas.

The highlight of the evening was a total sponsored miniature horse race with eight starters and befitting the evening, the driver of the winning mini horse was none other than Walter Ross, Sr.

With hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the winner’s circle area, Ross, Jr. thanked everyone for their generous efforts and once it was announced that $25,000 was raised, Ross broken down and could not speak..

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

SANTASTIC’S PAN and driver Joe Pavia, Jr. win the first Preview Division for the Isle of Capri Pace Saturday at Pompano Park in 1:52.4.

With the $250,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series getting underway February 12, the two $15,000 preview events Saturday gave notice of big miles to come.

In the 5th race first division, Santastic’s Pan ($3.20) and driver Joe Pavia, Jr., who prepped last week with a 1:52.4 qualifying win, went down the road and never looked back, rolling again to a 1:52.4 triumph by one and one-quarter lengths. Hearty Fellow (Wally Hennessey) rallied well at the end of the mile to finish second with the pocket-sitting Artiology (Tony Morgan) third.

It was the first start of the new year for Santastic’s Pan, a four-year-old stallion by The Panderosa, who is trained by Ettore Annuziata and owned by Richard Annunziata of Mahopac, NY.

Then in the 9th race second Isle Preview division, Daylon Trooper ($4.80) and driver Wally Hennessey were able to get a perfect second-over trip and rally in the stretch to win by one length in 1:52 over Maltese Artist (Richard Macomber, Jr.) and Our Galvinator A (Joe Pavia, Jr.).

Quarter Carat (Kevin Wallis) took early command away from Our Galvinator A but was then pressured by He Wants It All (Tony Morgan) on the outside as Daylon Trooper enjoyed the second over cover and Maltese Artist followed that outside flow to grab second money.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

DAYLON TROOPER and driver Wally Hennessey win an Isle of Capri Pace Preview division in 1:52 Saturday at Pompano Park.

It was the second win in five starts this year for Daylon Trooper, a seven-year-old stallion by Camluck, who is trained by Ross Croghan and is owned by Giovanni Cocca, Dominick Petracca and Frank Petracca of NY.

The $125,000 Mack Lobell Trotting Series starts next Friday but after this Saturday’s Preview Trot, there is a “Hush” over the field.

The “Hush” came in the form of Hellava Hush ($5.00), the five-year-old gelded son of Lindy Lane, who gave notice in his 2005 pari-mutuel debut that he is back in form with a decisive 1:56 triumph.

The race featured lead changes at every quarter, but driver Tom Sells and Hellava Hush weaved their way through it all to win by two open lengths over Sweet Count (Richard Macomber, Jr.) and Ultimate Sundance (Bruce Ranger).

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

HELLAVA HUSH and driver Tom Sells take the Mack Lobell Trot Preview in 1:56 Saturday at Pompano Park.

Bubba Dunn (Bob Harper) was the first on the lead but he had to give way to Ultimate Sundance, who despite starting from the second tier in post 11, found clearance after the first turn to brush to the top. He was then challenge by Sweet Count, who did take command at the three-quarters but could not put away Ultimate Sundance until the stretch drive.

Sells and Hellava Hush came first-over in the backstretch and was able to grind their way to the leaders and pull away in the stretch.

One of the top Open Trotters of the 2004 season, Hellava Hush is trained by William Gallagher and is owned by Joseph Chnapko of Livingston, NJ.