by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — Josh The Prince ($17.80), a 7-1 longshot in the third race Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night at Pompano Park, made a bold first-over move in the backstretch for driver Joe Pavia, Jr. and grinded his way around the final turn before pulling away in the stretch for a one and three-quarter length victory. It was the ninth win this year for Josh The Prince, a five-year-old gelding by Village Jiffy, who covered the one mile race in a lifetime best 1:51.4. Michelle Hallett trains Josh The Prince for owners Linda Van Nortwick, Arlene Macaro, Marie Amato and Alex Rivera. The featured race of the evening started off with Hipeka A (George Napolitano, Jr.) shooting out to the early lead from post five with Josh The Prince grabbing the pocket-seat to the opening quarter-mile in :27.2. But Anthony Napolitano had I Am Blue on the move and in command in front of the grandstand the first time and led the field to the half-mile pole in :55.3. It was then that Pavia came back out again with Josh The Prince in the backstretch and they began to challenge I Am Blue for the lead with Dee Magic Man (Richard Macomber, Jr.) following the outside flow second-over to the three-quarters in 1:23.2. As they came down the stretch it was all Josh The Prince, who dug in and wore down I Am Blue and then pulled away at the wire. Dee Magic Man was second with a late closing Ira’s Noble Boy (Wally Hennessey) third. Wally Hennessey led all drivers Saturday with five winners on the night.