by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL – Captain Americam, a 9-1 long shot, was able to work out a pocket-trip from the 3/5 favorite, Bodacious Bay, and score a head triumph in winning the 8th race $5,000 pace at Pompano Park Harness Track Thursday in 1:54.3.

Pompano Park Photo.

Bruce Ranger

The feature pace started off with driver Bruce Ranger and Captain Americam shooting right to the lead from post four with Chucaro Ahijuna (George Napolitano, Jr.) flying on the outside to try and take command but went off-stride right before the opening quarter mile in :28.3.

Driver Kevin Wallis had just started up with Bodacious Bay and they were able to surge to the lead before the half mile pole in :58.2 but was challenge right away with a first-over move from Chief Park Row and driver John Kakaley. They were trailed second-over by Gimmea Blue Chip (Vince Copeland).

Past the three-quarters in 1:26.2, Chief Park Row began to fade a bit and in the stretch, Ranger was able to make his move with Captain Americam and just get up in the final strides to the wire in defeating Bodacious Bay. Ira’s Noble Boy (Ray Paver, Jr.) was third.

Captain Americam paid $20.20, $5.60 and $5.00 across the board in winning for the first time this year. The eight-year-old gelding by Cambest is owned by Jean Bryar of Meredith, NH and is trained by Serge Nadeau for the Bruce Ranger Stable.

The victory was one of three straight wins for Ranger, who led all drivers for the evening.

The Thunder & Lightning Farm’s undefeated mare, Lady Astra A, goes for her third straight win on the new year Friday in the 11th race $6,500 feature pace.

The oldest mare in the field at age 10, Lady Astra A has only gotten faster with age as one of her two victories this year, January 5, was a lifetime best 1:54.4 victory for driver Wally Hennessey and trainer Fred Cohen. The Australian bred spots between three and six years of age against her younger rivals.