by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The FSBOA sponsored Sunshine State Stakes finals were contested at Pompano Park on Tuesday (Oct. 31) with four classes of 3-year-olds seeking a share of $48,000 in purses.

When all was said and done, Atlantic Crest, Azzaro, Gold Star Aurora and Prairie Panther all claimed the top awards in their respective $12,000 events.

Atlantic Crest kicked the festivities off with yet another gate-to-wire win — her fourth straight — for owner-driver-trainer Sergio Corona in the sophomore filly trot. The daughter of Crest wired together early fractions of :30 and :59.4 before picking up the pace on the backside (1:28.2) and the strolling home in :29.2 to hit the wire in 1:57.4 — her margin 1-1/2 lengths over a gallant Famous C (Wally Hennessey) with Prairie Pixie (Jim Meittinis) just another neck back in third. Sparkling Comet and Bonnie Blue Banker completed the order of finish.

Atlantic Crest, last year’s champion in her juvenile division, now has 14 wins in 31 career starts with earnings of $89,074 to go along with a 1:55.2 mark at Plainridge Racecourse.

Next, the “15th round” of the rivalry between Azzaro and I’m Done was contested and, after they slugged it out in the lane, Azzaro emerged victorious in yet another decision decided by the photo finish camera in the sophomore trot for the colts and geldings. The gelded son of Proud Bushy, trained by Kim Sears, who co-owns with Jay Sears, was driven by Wally Hennessey with a neck separating the pair at the wire in 2:01, after the two traded light jabs through panels of :31.1 and 1:02.4 before the slugfest began five-sixteenths from home. After reaching the third station in 1:32.3, both were on their way home with a :28.2 finale, trading punches right to the wire. I’m Done was driven by John MacDonald.

“It was quite something,” said Hennessey after the event. “It’s become quite a tussle between these two and it looks like it’s going down to the wire this year, too.”

Azzaro now has the eight-to-seven edge in wins over I’m Done in their 15 rounds, good for $60,724 in career bounty. I’m Done, last year’s champion by virtue of his Super Night win, has the edge in earnings with $79,746 career-wise.

The 3-year-old filly pace went to Gold Star Aurora, handled by Walter Ross Jr. for trainer Maggie Audley and owner Marianne Audley. The Rock On lass won the early tussle with Prairie Cowgirl (Jim Meittinis) and was well rated through panels of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.2 before a :27.4 sprint home sealed the deal by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1, a new lifetime mark.

Said the soft-spoken driver, Walter Ross Jr., “She went a very nice mile, so let’s give all the credit to her!”

Gold Star Aurora is now four-for-five this semester and 11-for-13 lifetime with career bounty of $72,354.

While those first three events were non-wagering ones, the Sunshine State Stakes for the 3-year-old colts and geldings was held on the pari-mutuel card and Prairie Panther, driven by Jim Meittinis, was home free in 1:55.3. Trained by MIke Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, the gelded son of Royel Millennium made a sharp quarter move to the front after the opener in :27.4 and then went on to slice through subsequent fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.2 before putting away a serious challenge on the backside through the final turn to score by a handy 2-3/4 lengths over Maybe Ned (Bryce Fenn) with Gold Star Spider (Walter Ross Jr.) third. Gold Star Bugsy and Fifth Son picked up the minor awards in the field of nine.

After the event, Meittinis said, “Wally’s (Hennessey) horse (Fabiano) made a big move on the backstretch and he may have put a nose in front of us along the way, but (Prairie) Panther is a fighter and doesn’t like it when another horse gets alongside of him. He fights back!”

Prairie Panther swept through his four Sunshine State Stake legs before sweeping to victory in this final, sending his 2017 scorecard to 5-1-0 in nine starts. Lifetime, he’s 12 for 17 with earnings of $76,170. Off at 1-5 on the toteboard, Prairie Panther paid $2.60 to his many faithful.

Finally, the $11,000 Open Handicap Trot went to Born To Thrive, driven by trainer Rick Plano in 1:56.1. The 4-year-old gelded son of Swan For All knifed between horses in the final yards to pin a photo finish defeat on Bjanthony (Mickey McNichol) by a neck after the latter was bothered a bit in deep stretch when the highly regarded favorite, Boli, made a miscue. Zoraze (Corey Braden) finished a fast closing third, a length away, with Iholdon fourth after cutting the mustard through panels of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:26.2. Railee Workable, originally sixth, was moved up a notch to earn the final award.

Born To Thrive won for the fifth time in 24 starts to send his seasonal earnings to $48,830 for owners Maryann Plano, Victor Contento and John Campagnuolo. He paid $5.20 as second choice in the wagering.

Racing continues on Sunday night with first post scheduled at 7:20 p.m.