by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The talent and improvisational abilities of leading horseman Bruce Ranger were tested to the limit and he devised yet another way to win in the top trotting class feature at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park on the Wednesday (Jan. 5) program.

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

Keystone Thomas was kept well back of fast fractions and earned a life’s mark of 1:54.1.

With his stable stalwart Andover America on the sidelines after five straight wins, Ranger summoned his bench strength to execute a big win from back in the pack with Keystone Thomas in the $12,000 weekly event.

“This is a really nice handy horse and people shouldn’t make too much of the fact that I drove Andover America when they were both entered together,” Ranger said in a live trackside TV interview after Keystone Thomas earned a life’s mark of 1:54.1. “He won 11 races last year and he’s still coming into his own. I knew that Southwind Vavoom was really fast after watching him race up in Toronto. I didn’t expect the fractions to be as fast as they were and I didn’t ask my horse to even try to keep up until well into the last half.”

That early speed show Ranger spoke of was courtesy of Ontario invader Southwind Vavoom. Trainer, driver and co-owner Lormer McClure cut his charge loose right off the starting gate wings to post fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:24.

With Baseball Express (Mike Deters) forced into a parked out trip the backfield was in motion turning for home. Keystone Thomas, owned by Fred Monteleone Stable of Pompano Beach, Fla., was the best in the stretch to hold off a wide sweeping Ginger Tree Jimmy in rein to Chuck Connor, Jr. Senator Hall with Joe Pavia, Jr. could only muster the show prize after a pocket trip and Southwind Vavoom held fourth.

Ranger milestone countdown hastens

In addition to Keystone Thomas, Bruce Ranger brought home trotters Eel and Dr Cal along with pacer Big Business for a four win performance on the program.

The 51-year-old horseman hailing from Portland, Maine is not only the leading driver in Pompano’s 47-year history, he’s also just six driving wins away from joining the 8,000 win club. Ranger’s driving purses recently surpassed the $31 million plateau.

On Saturday evening (Jan. 8) the action begins early at 6:30 p.m. with a pair of non-wagering events for Florida bred 3-year-old pacers in the championship finals of the Orange Blossom Series and the Gator Series. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing.