by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Prior to Pompano Park opening on Sunday night (Oct. 2), driver Rob Hoffman was reflecting on his chances with the 2-year-old trotting filly Bonnie Blue Banker and the 3-year-old trotting gelding Proud Joe T in their respective Sunshine State Stake events.

“All I can tell you is you have to remember two words — manners matters. These young horses are just learning and anything can happen — whether they are 50- or 60-1 or 5-2.”

Well, Hoffman turned out to be quite a prognosticator as he won with both of them — Bonnie Blue Banker at better than 60-1 and Proud Joe T at 5-2.

Bonnie Blue Banker, a daughter of Crest, leased and trained by Dave Myrick, indeed minded her manners as her other four opponents made miscues along the way while she strolled away to a 17 length win to break her maiden in 2:04.4. Returning a $131.00 mutuel as the longest proposition in her quintet, she pinned defeat on Prairie Pixie (Mike Deters), Miss Olivia Irene (Mickey McNichol), Atlantic Crest and the 1-20 favorite, Famous C, who made a miscue prior to the start.

Skip Smith photo

Proud Joe T remained perfect for the season in capturing his division of the Sunshine Stakes on opening night at Pompano Park.

Proud Joe T, also trained by lessee Dave Myrick, led virtually every stride of his lifetime best 2:01.2 performance, scoring a win measuring 1-3/4 lengths over the late charging Thundercrest (Dustin Ingraham) with Fifty Fifty Ninety (Jason MacDougall next after a mild challenge around the final bend. Savin Rock and Rexamillion were next in that octet.

“Just like I said,” beamed the soft-spoken Hoffman, “manners matters!”

Completing the early daily double was Gold Star Brianna, a 3-year-old daughter of Basil, who remained a career perfect 10-for-10 with a handy win for Wally Hennessey in her division of the Sunshine State Stake. Timed in 1:59 — last half :58.3 — Gold Star Brianna won by 5-3/4 lengths over All Star Fame (Kevin Wallis) with Trottime Fool (John MacDonald) next. I’m For Sale and Trotting Missmissy completed the rundown in that one.

Related Hennessey, “She’s just a nice, handy filly to drive. She needed a little help to be a perfect ’10’ (she was placed first in her second lifetime start), but she’ll do anything she’s asked to do.”

Owned by Kevin Kelly, Gold Star Brianna pushed her lifetime bounty over $70,000 with the victory. She paid $2.20 to win.

The other Sunshine State Stake event was off the card with Jay and Kim Sears’ Azzaro, with Jay in the bike for trainer Kim, the best over I’m Done (Tom Lehmann) in what turned out to be a two horse match race. Azzaro, a son of Proud Bushy, covered the mile in 2:07.1, highlighted by a :28.4 sprint home.

The first Open of the season went to All Steinam, handled by John MacDonald, in 1:53.2. The 7-year-old altered son of Tell All left, yielded to Team Captain (Aaron Byron) short of the opening marker in :27.3, pulled heading into the final turn after the :56.3 half, collared Team Captain turning for home after three-quarters in 1:24.4 and doggedly held off the tenacious Hillybilly (Wally Hennessey) to score by a neck in 1:53.2.

All Steinam now has $315,759 on his lifetime card — $52,403 this semester — for J P Stables.

MacDonald also had a driving double on opening night, also scoring with Sing For Me George in 1:53.1 — the fastest mile of the night. Sing For Me George, a 7-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight trained by Paul Bernardo for Joseph Martinella Sr., won for the first time since Aug. 3, 2015 and sent his lifetime bounty to $387,836.

Kevin Wallis also had a driving double with two of his own with Keystone Bodacious and Machmemackie.

Racing continues on Tuesday night with Godiva Seelster the headliner in the Open pace for fillies and mares. Post time is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.