by Michael Costanzo, public relations coordinator, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Mark Rorabeck’s juvenile trotter Southern Rain visited the Pompano Park winner’s circle for the third straight time on Wednesday (September 26) when capturing his $5,478 leg of the Sunshine State Stakes for 2-year-old Florida-bred colts and geldings in 2:02.1.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Southern Rain was a 2:02.1 winner for Bruce Ranger in their Sunshine State Stakes.

Driven from post two by Bruce Ranger, Southern Rain was unhurried through the early stages of Wednesday’s race, finding a spot on the rail in third place as Trot Monster (Wally Hennessey) and Ruby’s Jewell (Brad Hanners) battled through an opening quarter in :30.1.

As the trotters made their first trip past the grandstand, Ruby’s Jewell made a break allowing Southern Rain to settle in the pocket, where the son of Wewering tracked Trot Monster intently through middle fractions of 1:01.1 and 1:32.2.

Trot Monster entered the stretch with a 1-1/2 length advantage, but the gelding had no answer for Southern Rain, who was moved off the pylons in mid-stretch and quickly engulfed the leader, driving clear in the final yards to post a 1-3/4 length victory. Trot Monster crossed the wire second while Cracker Jame (Kevin Wallis) finished third.

Trained by Mike Deters, Southern Rain has prevailed in six of his eight career starts, and now owns a lifetime bankroll of over $24,000.

Indigo Swirl continued her dominance over the Florida-bred juvenile filly trotting division on Wednesday when scoring for the sixth time in eight starts, taking her $5,199 leg of the Sunshine State Stakes in 2:05.4.

Owned by Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky, trained by Tom Harmer, and driven to victory by Mickey McNichol, the daughter of Crown Can pushed her career bankroll over the $24,000 mark with her Wednesday triumph. Famous Valentine (Hennessey) and Streeter (Robert Williams, Jr.) rounded out the top three.

Discreet Encounter prevailed for the second time in three starts when taking down her $5,124 division of the Sunshine State Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies in 2:03.2.

Trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns the filly with James Armstrong, the daughter of Wewering was driven to her third career victory by Bruce Ranger. Happy Bee (Tom Haughton) was second while Guided Miss Tique (Stephane Lareau) finished third.

The sophomore trotter Blake Island notched his third consecutive victory on Wednesday when taking the first $5,168 Sunshine State Stakes event of the evening.

Owned by John Campagnuolo, trained by Kim Sears, and driven by Wally Hennessey, the son of Wewering led throughout, stopping the timer in 2:00.4 for his 10th career victory from 15 starts. Timer (Bruce Ranger) finished second while Phone Is Ringing (Brad Hanners) crossed the wire third.

‘Battleshoe’ victorious in feature

Battleshoe Victor showed no signs of rust when shaking off an eight-week layoff to capture the featured $14,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano on Wednesday.

Driven from post six by Anthony Napolitano, Battleshoe Victor slipped through an opening on the rail in mid-stretch to chase down wagering favorite Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger), while holding off a late charge by O-Georgie (Daryl Bier), to score by 1-1/4 lengths at the wire in 1:57.4.

Owned by Michael Polansky and trained by Tom Harmer, Battleshoe Victor was making his first appearance since an August 1 event at Pompano where the son of Valley Victor crossed the wire second, beaten a length by the aforementioned Guy Gets Girl.

Battleshoe Victor has now prevailed in five of 16 starts this year, with a seasonal bankroll in excess of $65,000 and lifetime earnings of $156,225.