Pompano Beach, FL — Dein Spriggs holds a precarious lead heading into Sunday’s (March 27) final elimination of Pompano Park’s Amateur World Cup qualifier.

With a narrow 29-23 advantage over Robert Krivelin and five other amateur drivers in contention for the top spot, the competition is expected to reach its peak in the final three races.

Spriggs vaulted to the top spot last Sunday with a pair of wins with The Big Muscle and Loyal Fox Hanover during the trio of races, while Krivelin started the festivities by winning with a 15-year-old millionaire trotter, Watkins.

Watkins is in to go again Sunday (race two) but, this week, by luck of the draw, Joe Pennacchio, third with 16 points going into Sunday’s action, is the listed driver and can vault into closer contention with a win. Spriggs will handle Ongoing Royalty in the event and is a definite threat, moving from the outside post nine, from where he finished a fast-closing fourth, to the rail. Krivelin will drive the $410,000 winner Panamanian Hanover.

Larry Ferrari, currently in a tie for fifth in the point standings with 15, will handle the lines behind Sumbodygetdisfool, a winner in his last start two weeks ago.

Ferrari is tied with Ron Cusimano, who will steer 35-time winner Ricky Be Sharp.

Tony Dinges and Jamie Marra complete the Sunday night roster, both of whom can jump into serious contention with a win.

The second event in the contest (race three) features a million-dollar field led by the $388,113 winner Noble Legend — third last week — with Spriggs listed to drive. Krivelin is back to drive Wesley Hanover, with whom he finished second last week; Pennacchio will drive his own Keystone Blade, a winner last week, but the they will have to overcome the outside seven post this week. The “sleeper” might be Rose Run Rudi, who has been competing in regular overnight events. He will have the driving services of Larry Ferrari on Sunday.

In the finale of the three-race event, Phoenician, a winner in an overnight event for Wally Hennessey in his last start, will be driven by Pennacchio and has the benefit of the rail post position.