by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — After recent lawn watering and water use restrictions were put in place because of a drought in South Florida, heavy rain on Monday (March 28) was welcomed almost everywhere. Although the overdue heavy rain caused a 40 minute delay in the start of the program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, the trainer-driver team of Steve Stabile and Ray Vizzi seemed to thrive on the sloppy track and rain soaked conditions.

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

The trainer-driver tandem of Steve Stabile and Ray Vizzi teamed up for a victory with trotting mare Prairie Treasure.

Before the rain subsided, the two men clicked with 4-year-old trotting mare Prairie Treasure as the even money favorite in a $4,000 conditioned test. Vizzi sat in with the daughter of Arapa Victory-Lucky Toy until well into the third quarter before sweeping past for a 2:03 win. Steve Stabile owns and trains Prairie Treasure, and the equipment change he ordered (open to blind bridle) for this start worked like a charm as the graduate of the Florida Breeders program pushed her life’s earnings to $30,752.

In the next race with 15-1 longshot Lukes Nathalie, Vizzi and Stabile racked up a second place with the 4-year-old trotting mare. In this event, R L Merita with Stephane Bardier in the bike was a front end winner for owner-trainer Rene Lizotte of Quebec.

The rain finally ended for the final half of the program and the track condition was upgraded from sloppy to good. Wally Jimmy, a 3-year-old Yankee Cam-Shannon Deja Vu gelding, impressed in victory again as he turned the night’s fastest mile at 1:54. Wally Hennessey was in the bike for owner-trainer Ron MacArthur of Boynton Beach, Fla. Wally Jimmy has won four times in seven career starts to date at the South Florida venue.

The soggy night also did not deter some fast and furious action at the claiming box. The $6,000-$8,000 claiming pace in the fifth race saw four horses change ownership. There were multiple claims on 6-year-old gelding The Riley Factor, who went to new owners Brian Bellamy and Carin Peel. Other horses claimed from the same race were Remington Style, Whatanartist and the race winner Albion.

Milestone near for Pellegrino

By sending out a pair of winners on the Monday evening program with claiming pacer Albion and conditioned trotter Four Starz Dollars, trainer Peter Pellegrino ran up his meet leading win total to 49 since racing resumed last October 16.

Pellegrino has only a single starter on the Tuesday evening, March 29, card but his 50th win of the meet could be at hand. He’ll harness up I’m Just Special, the 4-5 morning line choice in the $14,000 pacing mares handicap feature in the third race. That career winner of more than $602,000 has been ordered to the outside of the starting gate in the field of six, with race night streaming and replays available for free in the ‘racing’ tab at www.theislepompanopark.com.