by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — After finishing second in his most recent start, the ageless veteran trotter Source Of Luck notched the first victory of his 13-year-old season on Monday (Feb. 12) when taking the $7,000 seventh race trotting co-feature at Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

The 13-year-old gelding Source Of Luck and driver Bruce Ranger prevail in the $7,000 co-featured trot.

Starting from post five, Source Of Luck (Bruce Ranger) appeared content to trot in second place through the early stages of Monday’s race, but once track record holder You’re Next (Wally Hennessey) made a break entering the first turn, Source Of Luck inherited the lead and the race was essentially over.

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Source Of Luck took the field through modest fractions of :29.2, :59.3, and 1:29.2, before coming home in :29.1 to complete the mile in 1:58.3, winning by two lengths.

Trotting Max (Donald Dupont), who raced in the pocket throughout, finished second while Mycenae Bluegrass (Richard Macomber, Jr.), who crossed the wire fourth, was placed third after Chief Cochise (Brett Miller) was disqualified for interference.

You’re Next, who won the first 13 races of his career to set the Pompano track record, finished last after going off-stride for the second straight time.

Source Of Luck is owned by John Hallett of Margate, Fla., and is trained by his wife Michelle. The 13-year-old Illinois-bred son of Sorcerer Hanover has over $540,000 in career earnings, and won an Open Trot at Pompano Park at least once in every season from 1997 through 2005.

Source Of Luck has a lifetime record of 56-67-66 from 352 starts and was inducted into the Florida Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.

The German-bred trotter Byzanz took the $7,000 ninth race trotting co-feature at Pompano, covering the mile in 1:57.3 for owner/driver Dein Spriggs and trainer Allen Saul.

Driven from post five by Spriggs, a three-time Amateur Driver of the Year, the 8-year-old son of Bosphorus trotted in the pocket while Ashcos Scotty (David Ingraham) took the field through split-times of :28.1, :57.4, and 1:27.2.

Leaving the final turn, Byzanz was angled off the pylons to attack the leader from the outside. Ashcos Scotty dug in gamely along the rail, but the 10-year-old gelding could not hold off Byzanz, who drew clear in the final yards to prevail by a length in 1:57.3.

Barberville Kid, who appeared unbothered by a track listed as “good” following an afternoon of showers, closed strongly to win the $3,500 fourth race pace at odds of 14-1, keying a $2 trifecta that returned $5,604.90.

Driven by Anthony Napolitano, Barberville Kid moved three-wide off the final turn and rolled home to prevail by 2-3/4 lengths over 49-1 longshot Perfect Dreamer (David Ingraham). Race favorite Elaine Big Hurcan (Bruce Ranger) crossed the wire third.

Barberville Kid returned $30.00, $12.40, $4.20 for the victory while Perfect Dreamer brought in $45.60, $14.00 for second. The $2 exacta returned $1,442.40.