by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The road to the pursuit of prosperity and distinction in the Florida Standardbred Breeders Owners Association stakes and out of state has begun for the remaining 2-year-olds being trained in the Sunshine State.

The first session of baby race qualifiers in Florida in 2011 was held on Saturday morning (June 18) at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Selena, a 2-year-old trotting filly by Anythings Possible-Twenty One Bee, owned by Donald Hecht’s DCLD Stables of New York, made her first career start a winning one in 2:07.2 with Chuck Connor, Jr. in the bike for trainer Warren Harp. Selena was a neck better than Pinch Of Thyme with Wally Hennessey in tow and Matcan driven by Tom Sells.

Sweet Fancy Moses was the fastest baby race winner on the pacing side with an eye catching debut in 1:59.4. Owner/trainer Enio Barrera was in the bike with the Heifetz Hanover-Walkers Bunny lass in the impressive six length win over Gold Star Gidget driven by Louis Ginesi and Prom Queen Hanover with Mickey McNichol in the bike.

In Saturday night’s $14,000 pacing feature event, Sugar’s Pride was parked past the quarter in :26.4 and went on to post fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.2 enroute to an impressive 1:52 score. Walter Ross, Jr. was in the bike as the 7-year-old gelding by All American Ingot-Cherchez La Femme posted his fifth win in 20 trips this year for trainer Gerald Greer and The Pilgrim Stable. Rudy Valentino with Ray Vizzi in the bike closed for second and Maxine’s Menace in rein to Robert Hoffman was third.

Two Monday evening programs remain in June in addition to the Wednesday and Saturday programs at 7:05 p.m. Monday cards will be dropped from the schedule in the final month of the current meet in July, with live race night streaming and replays always available for free in the ‘racing’ tab of www.theislepompanopark.com.