by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Three-time North American dashwinning champion and a three time Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year, Tony Morgan, will be at Pompano Park this Saturday and will drive in the second round of the $250,000 Isle of Capri Pacing Series.

Tony Morgan

With 8,861 career wins, Morgan, 45, ranks eighth of the all time winningest drivers in harness racing, and his $55.6 million in purses won ranks him 14th in history in North America. The Chicago-based horseman will be making his first appearance at Pompano Park and currently ranks third in North America among the winningest drivers, with 86 victories.

Morgan is coming to Pompano Park at the request of trainer-driver Tom Harmer and will drive five of Harmer’s horses on the program, two of which, Fox Valley Devious and He Wants It All, are in the Isle of Capri Pacing Series.

There will be three $25,000 divisions in the second round of the Isle of Capri Series, and after this Saturday’s competition the top nine point earners will return next Saturday, February 28 for the $160,000, added final.

The fifth race first division of the Isle of Capri will features The Globe, who will start from the rail for driver Wally Hennessey. Last week the winner of $481,000 in 2003 closed well after fanning four-wide on the final turn and finished second to Quality Of Life in a 1:52³ mile. His main competition will come from Joey Zaza (post seven) and Corporate Rrraider (post five). The latter won last year’s Isle of Capri Final for trainer-driver Peter Wrenn.

Quality Of Life will head the seventh race, second Isle of Capri division and will start from post position three for driver Bruce Ranger. Last week, Quality Of Life made two big moves and took control at the half-mile pole and then held on and won by one-half length. Quality Of Life will take on Little I Do N (post one), who was second last week in his division, and Dee Magic Man (post 6), who was third last week to Quality Of Life.

The big match-up of the night will take place in the ninth race, third Isle of Capri division, in which Luckyisasluckydoes will take on Hipeka A, both of whom were impressive winners last week.

Luckyisasluckydoes, a shipper from Woodbine Racetrack in Canada, wowed the crowd last week when he raced on the outside for three-quarters of the mile and won by one-half length in 1:51, just two-fifths of a second off of the track record. Luckyisasluckydoes will start from the rail for driver Bruce Ranger.

Hipeka A, given a perfect driver by trainer-driver George Napolitano last week, crushed the field by two and three-quarter lengths and set a lifetime best 1:51³ victory and has now won three of his last four starts. The third contender in the field will be Tom Harmer’s He Wants It All, who will be driven by Tony Morgan from post position four and who was third last week to Hipeka A. Two starts back He Wants It All won at Pompano Park in 1:52¹.

On Friday there will be two $17,500 divisions in the second round of the Mack Lobell Trotting Series, and after Friday’s preliminary round the top nine point-earners will return for the $75,000, added final, to be raced on Saturday, February 28.

The fourth race first division will be headed by I’m Dam Goog, who will start from post position six for driver Richard Macomber, Jr. Last week the newcomer from California was second by only a neck to the mare Lori Louise, and trotted his last quarter mile in a speedy :27⁴. I’m Dam Goog is the 5-2 favorite this week.

Also in the race will be Ultimate Sundance, who will start from post position two. He is the 2-1 second choice for driver Bruce Ranger and last week won his opening round division with a one-half length triumph timed in 1:56¹.

Other competitors will include the track record holder Damon Runyon (post seven), who won the Mack Lobell last year, Zizi’s Balance (post three), and Son Of Flair A (post eight).

Can the mare do it again Friday? Lori Louise, who last week showed her heels to seven male rivals in an impressive, 1:56¹ victory, which was her third win in six starts, all against male competition. Lori Louise will start from post position seven for driver Kevin Wallis and is the 7-2 second choice for the race.

The 5-2 favorites are Coerfurst and driver David Ingraham, who will start from the rail. The newcomer from the Meadowlands in New Jersey led most of the way last week and finished third to Ultimate Sundance. Other contenders include track record holder Trapper Salute A (post nine) and another shipper from the Meadowlands, Dunkster, from post three.