by Frank Salive

Pompano Beach, FL — The owners and breeders of emerging standout filly Seeking Jeanie sure are thankful she trots a whole lot faster than her favorite treat.

Skip Smith/Laptime photo

Seeking Jeanie cruised through quarters of 31.3, 1:02, and 1:33.2 enroute to a lifetime mark of 2:03.2.

“Her favorite treat at the barn is molasses cookies and she’ll be getting a whole lot more of them now” Karen Mergenhagen said in the winner’s circle. “My husband Arthur is a real hands-on owner and breeder and he couldn’t wait to get back to paddock with (trainer) Jim McDonald and our filly. We acquired the dam of Seeking Jeanie, Sightseek, over six years ago. The first horse Arthur owned was thirty four years ago with Bare Necessities, and he’s dabbled at breeding horses for thirty years since Careysbrook Rock in 1980. To finally have one that we bred and raised go out and win her first five lifetime starts is truly a dream come true.”

The purse was $10,000 for the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes Finals for 2-year-old state-bred horses at The Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park on the October 29 program.

There was never an anxious moment in this 2-year-old filly trot final for the daughter of Wesgate Storm as Seeking Jeanie cruised through quarters of 31.3, 1:02, and 1:33.2. Driver Wally Hennessey had lots in reserve on the lines when she finished in a life’s mark of 2:03.2. Little Peanut (Robert Williams Jr.) and Brielle T (Robert Hoffman) followed Seeking Jeanie under the wire.

Track Record for Famous Hall

The excitement of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes continued just two races later in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot final as a track record went into the history books.

Famous Hall, a 2-year-old gelding by Famously-Hall Of Stars took a textbook pocket trip from Wally Hennessey to stop the clock in 1:57.4, eclipsing the 2005 category standard of 1:58.1 set by Famous Mark. Prairie Big John in rein to Tom Sells blazed the trail in 28.4, 57.4 and 1:27.2 and could not hold off Famous Hall in the closing strides. Lugar, driven by Doug Brown, closed for third. Famous Hall is trained by Marc Aubin and is owned by breeder Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach, FL.

In the Sunshine State Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings heavily favored Diamond Star needed every inch of racetrack to secure the photo finish win. Steve Ray’s Dream in rein to Ray Vizzi was hard tested to make the front past the quarter in 27.3 after Wally Hennessey sent Diamond Star to the top from post seven. The middle fractions flashed up in 56.2 and 1:25.3. Turning for home, Creating A Dream and Walter Ross Jr. took over the lead and Diamond Star vacated the pylons and had to fan three wide for a clear lane. The Six Of Diamonds-Roulette gelding hung on for a narrow decision in 1:57.1 over the hard closing Chiricuhua with Dan Clements in the bike. T L Six Shooter in rein to Tom Lehmann brushed up for third. Diamond Star races in Florida from the Jim McDonald Stable for owner Brenda Komers of Aberdeen, NC.

The final event of the Sunshine State Stakes saw the 2-year-old filly pace division dominated by Keep On Cookin. Driver Walter Ross Jr. settled the filly early and complied with her wish to move to the top over Stiletto Jane and reinsman Tom Sells after the quarter in 27.2. The daughter of Capital Request-Rockin Lady wasted no time through the middle stages of 56.4 and 1:26.1, and Keep On Cookin left the field well back when the wire arrived in 1:57.2. Race co-favorite Ruby Howard partnered by Bruce Ranger made a first-over move and persisted for third. Keep On Cookin, owned by Elizabeth and Rick Schaut of Anderson, IN has won all five starts in Florida since moving into the care of trainer Michelle Hallett.

On Saturday night, the $10,000 purse 3-year-old finals of the FSBOA Sunshine State Stakes will be contested as part of the 11 race agenda.