by Steve Wolf, Senior Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Jus’ Chilln Out ($4.20), given a perfect trip by trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr., was able to hold off Shelly F (Bruce Ranger) in the stretch to win the sixth race $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Friday at Pompano Park in 1:54.1. Buttons ‘N Bows (Gaston Lareau) was third.

Susan M (Wally Hennessey) was first to show in the featured pace, cutting the mile to the opening quarter in :26.4 with Hyde Park Hussie N (Anthony Napolitano) grabbing the two hole spot. They raced that way to the half in :57.1 as Shelly F came first-over with Jus’ Chilln Out following their live cover on the outside.

As the field passed the three-quarters in 1:25.1, Pavia tipped Jus’ Chilln Out three-wide and by the top of the stretch Shelly F wore down Susan M and cleared to the lead. But as they came down the stretch, Jus’ Chilln Out was the stronger horse, winning by three-quarters of a length.

It was the second win in five starts this year for Jus’ Chilln Out, a four-year-old mare by The Panderosa, who is owned by Jack Holefelder, Dominic Pileggi, Barbara Louks and John Whitig of Pennsylvania.

In the third round of the Valley Victory Trotting Series, Frisky Fantom ($24.80) scored a major upset victory at 11-1 odds for trainer/driver Don Brainard with a lifetime best 1:56.3 triumph.

The $6,500 eighth race started off with Fraher Hill Magic (Kevin Wallis) shooting out from the rail with Along Comes Kevin (Wally Hennessey) in the two hole past the opening quarter in :28.4.

After the half mile in :59.1, Brainard came first-over with Frisky Fantom and the duo shot right to the lead, handing Highway Hanover (Richard Simard) first-over as they hit the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

But by the top of the stretch, Brainard had Frisky Fantom in full gear and the trotter pulled away in the stretch to win by two and three-quarter lengths over Along Comes Kevin, with Fraher Hill Magic third.

It was the second win this year for Frisky Fantom, a four-year-old gelding by Enjoy Lavec, who is owned by the Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach.