by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Lugar, handled by Tom Sells, easily captured Pompano Park’s $8,800 winners over trot on Wednesday night (July 24) in 1:55.2.

Skip Smith photo

Lugar, handled by Tom Sells, easily captured Pompano Park’s mid-week trotting feature in 1:55.1.

Famously bred — yes, he is by the noted Florida sire, Famously — the 5-year-old, trained by Mark Friedman for the Polo Stables, took the lead from stride number one, thwarted any early challenges with a :27 opener, carded mid-mile panels of :56.4 and 1:25.2 and cruised home with the win measuring 4-1/4 lengths.

In a photo for minor honors, Rompaway Brandon (Bryce Fenn) edged out Tug River Dylan (Walter Ross, Jr.) and even-money favorite Dutchess Seelster (Mickey McNichol). Celebrity Legacy picked up the “nickel.”

In a post race interview, Sells said, “Mark (trainer Friedman) thought he’d be a bit better this time around. Last week, he seemed to lose interest while in the three hole, so I decided to let him do what he does best — race on the front end. He sure was good tonight. I don’t know how he does it, but Mark sure knows how to get them Florida breds to the top of their game.”

Lugar now has banked $49,426 this year — his best season ever — and $129,323 lifetime. As third choice in the betting, Lugar paid $9.40 to those who invested $2 on his nose.

The win was one of three on the card for Sells, who took the opener for Sunshine Stake trotting eligibles with Jim Langley’s Worthy Crown, pulling off a 13-1 upset in the process, and a claiming event for trotters with the Tom Bigler trained and Peggy Faurot owned Pembroke Big Bo.

Langley, on the other hand, completed a “bookends” training double when Stephane Lareau guided his own Kaa Dee Elmo to victory in the finale.

Bruce Ranger also shared the spotlight by scoring a natural hat trick on races four, five and six.

Ranger took the fourth with Good Luck Penny for trainer Jim McDonald and the Pacing Pretty Stable, the fifth with Stewart Nemiro’s Base Camp, and the sixth with Dessert Princess, trained by McDonald for Carolyn Smiley and John Menges.

Pompano Park closes out the meet on Saturday night with a 12-race program. Post time is 7:05 p.m.