by Steve Wolf, senior director of racing operations, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Pure Jesse ($6.00) closed out the 2008 season at the Isle Pompano Park on Wednesday (Dec. 31) with his seventh victory on the year in the $8,500 featured trot.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Pure Jesse won the $8,500 featured trot at the Isle Pompano Park for driver Kevin Wallis in 1:57.4.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse used a power-move coming first-over at the three-quarter mark to grind it out against pacesetter Better By Design (Anthony Napolitano) and then pulled away from the field to win by two open lengths in 1:57.4. The pocket-sitting Tropical Bay (Dan Clements) was second with Beerthirty (Andy Santeramo) closing to be third.

The race started off with Better By Design cutting fractions of :27.2, :58.3 and 1:28.1 before driver Kevin Wallis came on the outside to challenge with Pure Jesse.

Trained by Linda Wallis, It was the third win in the last five starts for Pure Jesse, who is owned by Yvette Prudenzano and Basil Kellis.