by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Though there is no need for the municipality to stockpile snow plows or sand and salt for the roads, the Winter Capital of Harness Racing is sharing to some extent the cold wave gripping northern parts of the continent.

The U.S. National Weather Service issued a wind chill and freeze warning prior to the Monday, Dec. 13, program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. There was a forecast overnight low of an unprecedented 31 degrees, and the track’s long serving Paddock Judge, Bobby Owens, offered a perspective as the temperature was plummeting down through the 40s as the Monday evening card unfolded.

“The last time I can remember anything close to cold temperatures this severe here in December was 1988 when they blamed the cold for a major power outage,” Owens says. “Usually the coolest weather at Pompano only lasts about two weeks right after New Year’s Day. It sure has come early this year.”

Completely oblivious to the abnormally cold conditions on the Monday program was Anthony Napolitano. He reined in five winners on the program and two of those were from his own stable.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Anthony Napolitano guided trotter Speed O Begonia to a sharp front end win — the first of five winners he’d bring home on the evening.

Napolitano’s win binge started in the second race as he took claiming trotter Speed O Begonia right down the road. The very next race he teamed Ideally Magic to a sharp 1:53.2 score and two races later he completed the hat trick with pocket trip tactics for claiming pacer Scoozi.

In the seventh race, Napolitano converted yet another pocket trip for a tight win photo decision with claiming pacer Grinning Breed. Finally, in the last race of the night, another trip close to the pace was rewarded with a victory for claiming pacer Leutenant General.

Of that handful of winners on the program, Napolitano is also the trainer of Grinning Breed and Leutenant General.

From his first 75 starts in the bike the former meet champion in South Florida is winning at an outstanding 25 percent clip.

The Tuesday evening (Dec. 14) card will feature the top mares in action for a $12,000 purse in the ninth race. Esmeralda Semalu and Witch Trials have been ordered to the outside positions on the gate by Race Secretary Greg DeFrank.

Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. The scheduling changes this month will see a live race program added on Thursday, Dec. 23, and no live racing on Saturday, Dec. 25.