by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — After a series of five straight defeats, Sandstorm N regained his winning ways at Pompano Park on Saturday (June 30) when closing out the month of June with a victory in the featured $15,500 Winners Over Handicap Pace, covering the mile in 1:52.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Sandstorm N (#1) and driver Daryl Bier hold off a trio of late-charging rivals to capture the featured $15,500 Winners Over Handicap Pace.

Driven from post two by co-owner Daryl Bier, Sandstorm N was not content to settle in the pocket during the early stages of the Saturday feature and was subsequently parked out as Cape Karuna (Dan Clements) showed the way through an opening quarter-mile that went in :27.1.

As the pacers straightened out for their first trip past the Pompano grandstand, Sandstorm N cleared to the front to take control of the race, cruising unchallenged through middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:23.2.

Sandstorm N entered the stretch with a 1-1/4 length advantage, and despite being tested down the lane by several rivals, including race favorite Paper Exchange (Bruce Ranger), the son of Sands A Flyin dug in gamely to prevail by a neck at the wire.

Sandstorm N returned $10.00, $2.80, $2.80 for the victory. Paper Exchange paid $2.40, $2.20 for second, while Dreamy Sonata (Andy Santeramo) brought in $3.00 for third.

Owned by Bier, Glenn Del Russo, and Anthony Amante, and trained by Jenny Bier, Sandstorm N has visited the winner’s circle in seven of 23 starts this year, and has seasonal earnings of $49,661.

Saturday’s victory was the first for Sandstorm N since the 5-year-old gelding prevailed in a career best 1:50.3 on May 12 while tallying his third win from four starts.

Sears captures both divisions of Gator Series

Trainer Kim Sears sent out a pair of juvenile winners at Pompano on Saturday as Sody’s Moonshine and Mc Ryan Michael took both opening leg divisions of the Gator Pacing Series for 2-year-old Florida-bred colts and geldings.

In the first division, which was held as a non-wagering event prior to the first pari-mutuel race of the night, Sody’s Moonshine paced a winning mile in 2:00.3 for driver Kevin Wallis, with a final quarter that was timed in :29.1.

Sody’s Moonshine is a homebred son of Tough Sir, out of the Scoot Outa Reach mare Sue Perfecta, and is owned by Donald Soderstrom.

The second division of the Gator Series, contested as the first race on the Saturday program, saw Mc Ryan Michael ($5.20) score a front-end victory while pacing the mile in 2:00.2, covering the final panel in :28.3.

Owned by Jay Sears, Kim Sears, and Russell Peavyhouse, Mc Ryan Michael is a son of Mannart Howard, out of the Artsplace mare Quadzzzena, and was driven to victory by Bruce Ranger.