by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Jay and Kim Sears’ Lucy Lucy tallied her second consecutive Sunshine State Stakes victory at Pompano Park on Friday, September 21, when capturing the fifth leg of the Florida-bred series for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:56.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Lucy Lucy notches her second consecutive Sunshine State Stakes victory on Friday when scoring in 1:56.

Driven from post seven by Bruce Ranger, Lucy Lucy settled contently in third place through the opening stages of the Friday pace as Leavembehind (Wally Hennessey) was hustled to the front to carve out early fractions of :27.4 and :58.

As the pacers traveled down the backstretch, Ranger was the first to move off the pylons with Lucy Lucy, and the pair quickly gained ground on Leavembehind as that one moved by the three-quarter marker in 1:26.2.

Midway through the final turn, Lucy Lucy took possession of the top spot and quickly opened up a four length advantage before coasting down the stretch to prevail by 4-3/4 lengths at the wire.

Lucy Lucy returned $4.80, $3.20, and $2.80 for the victory. Flutterbutt (Kevin Wallis) brought in $9.80 and $10.00 for second, while Leavembehind paid $2.40 for third. Wagering favorite Sunshine Cindy had a five-race winning streak halted when finishing fourth.

A six-time winner during her juvenile season, Lucy Lucy has visited the winner’s circle in two of her five appearances as a sophomore, in addition to a second-place performance in the $14,150 Hurricane on August 3.

Alice Springs still perfect

The undefeated juvenile filly pacer Alice Springs led at every call en route to her seventh successive triumph on Friday, taking the fifth leg of the Sunshine State Stakes in 1:58.1 over a racing surface listed as ‘good.’

Driven by Wally Hennessey, Alice Springs took the field through fractions of :30.1, 1:01.1, and 1:30, before coming home in :28.1 to secure the victory.

Owned by Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky, and trained by Tom Harmer, the daughter of first-crop sire N Aboriginal boosted her lifetime earnings over the $41,000 mark with her Friday score.

A total of five Sunshine State Stakes were contested on the Friday night program from Pompano, with the 3-year-old filly trotters Crown Candle (2:00.4) and Sweet Melissa (2:00.3), and the sophomore pacing filly Miss Top Flight (1:58), also visiting the winner’s circle.

Saturday evening’s live racing program from Pompano will feature a quartet of Sunshine State Stakes for colt and gelding pacers, two of which will be offered as non-wagering events. Post time for the 12-race pari-mutuel card is 7:25 p.m., with the first non-wagering race scheduled to commence at 6:50 p.m.

Daytime thoroughbred simulcasting to begin Saturday

Due to a recent court ruling in Florida, beginning Saturday, guests at Pompano Park will have the opportunity to wager on full-card simulcasting from daytime thoroughbred tracks.

In addition to its usual slate of Standardbred offerings, the Saturday afternoon menu at Pompano will include racing from Philadelphia Park, Suffolk Downs, Calder Race Course, Belmont Park, Louisiana Downs, Woodbine, Turfway Park, Kentucky Downs, Hawthorne Race Course, Fairplex, and Bay Meadows.