by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Joe Pavia Jr. has returned from Pocono Downs with a 30 horse stable to his winter season base in South Florida and the 51-year-old horseman won his first two drives. It was the first time Pavia had competed at Pompano since last March.

In the opening race of the Monday evening, November 21 program, Pavia returned to the winner’s circle after sending $11,000 claiming pace mare Dinah Ross through a powerful life’s mark win in 1:53.1 over Aries Angel with Rick Plano in tow and Princess Michi partnered by Mike Micallef. Dinah Ross, a 4-year-old mare by Shark St Partners-Artica was making her first start in the care of trainer Chris Marino after a claim by Robert Weinstein of Bellmore, NY.

With Wally Hennessey booking off his Pompano drives for the evening, Pavia’s next appearance was with Princessofdarkness in the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace. He worked out a perfect pocket trip and tipped out turning for home to haul down the favored I’m Just Special in 1:53. Hay Beautiful, driven by Mike Micallef, closed next best for third. Princessofdarkness is conditioned by Jim Mattison and was following up a life’s mark of 1:52.1 from seven days prior for her 7th win in 27 starts this year. She pushed her 2011 earnings to $59,800 for co-owners Leola Pochesi, Vicki Mattison, and Gil Pochesi.

Pavia has been a Pompano mainstay for more than two decades. As he returns to this meet, he’s less than 40 driving wins away from the 5,000 recorded wins milestone. In the bike his career earnings are almost $32 million while on the training side his next milestones will be 600 winners and $7 million in purse earnings.

Meet’s Quickest Mile To Keep On Flirtin

It was the first program of the full four nights per week schedule for the 2011-2012 season at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, and the card dominated by the fillies and mares under ideal 77 degree conditions produced several winners taking life’s record speed marks.

Leading the way in a $6,100 purse conditioned test was Keep On Flirtin with her owner and trainer Ed Hensley in the bike. As Missmaximus, in rein to Rick Plano, blazed the trail through quarters of 27.1, 54.4 and 1:22.3, Keep On Flirtin was enjoying a perfect drafting trip before tipping out early in the stretch enroute to stopping the clock in 1:50.4. Missmaximus held second while 3-year-old Florida stakes program filly Gold Star Glittler closed for third with Dan Clements in tow. Not only was it a life’s mark for the 4-year-old daughter of Cambest-Rockin Lady, the clocking by Keep On Flirtin also eclipsed the meet’s previous fast mile of 1:51.3 turned in by Dragon’s Blood in the Open Handicap Pace class.

Post time is 7:05 Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing. The full season schedule through next July along with free race night live streaming and replays is found in the ‘racing’ tab at www.theislepompanopark.com.