by Steve Wolf, senior director of racing operations, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Both 2-year-old trotters, Whosgoinwhosstayin and Pearl Of Capri, overcame a sloppy, rain-soaked track to advance towards a $100,000 bonus at the Isle Pompano Park Harness Track on Wednesday, September 24.

Each horse won their respective $14,000 final of the Florida Sunshine State Stakes to remain eligible for the $100,000 bonus. Whosgoinwhosstayin won the colt division and is undefeated in nine lifetime starts and Pearl Of Capri won her seventh straight race in capturing the filly division. There are four Florida Sire Stakes finals each horse must win to get the $100,000 bonus.

There were also two $14,000 finals for 3-year-old trotters on Wednesday as Southern Rain won his 12th straight race in the colt and gelding division and Baileysirishdream scored her seventh straight win in the filly division.

But the most impressive of the four winners was the undefeated Whosgoinwhosstayin, who started the first race final Wednesday off-stride!

“He slipped right at the start and went off-stride,” said driver Mickey McNichol. “The track was slick from the rain. But what a rebound he made. What a great horse he is…unbelievable!”

Be Lachek went right to the lead for driver Wally Hennessey with Myakka (Tom Lehmann) in second place while Whosgoinwhosstayin was far back from the leaders, just getting back on stride as the leaders passed the opening quarter in :29.4.

Be Lachek continued to lead as Whosgoinwhosstayin got back on stride but was in seventh place trying to catch up to the field. Past the half-mile maker in 1:01, McNichol sent Whosgoinwhosstayin to the outside and the son of Basil-Benn’s Margie started to gain ground.

Down the backstretch Be Lachek held the field at bay but by the three-quarter pole in 1:31.3, Whosgoinwhosstayin was able to drop into second place behind Be Lachek and then in the stretch, McNichol urged Whosgoinwhosstayin on to victory by one length in 2:01. Be Lacheck was second with Hard Work’n Rick (Tom Sells) third.

Whosgoinwhosstayin is trained by Linda Kakaley and co-owned with breeder Sophia Valkanoff.

Pearl Of Capri left little doubt that she is the top freshman trotting filly in Florida as she took command after the opening quarter for driver Dan Clements and steamrolled her way to victory by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4. Parsley Sprig (Wally Hennessey) was second with Over Drawn (Rick Harp) third.

Veral Bowman trains the daughter of Famously-Jettas Pearl, who was bred and is owned by Frank and Inge Smith.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Southern Rain won his 12th consecutive start with a 1:58.3 victory in the $14,000 Florida Sunshine State Stakes Final for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Southern Rain is now one win away from tying the all-age track record at the Isle Pompano Park for most consecutive wins. That record is held by You’re Next (2006-2007) at 13 straight wins.

Driven by Bruce Ranger, Southern Rain was able to get a perfect two-hole trip behind pacesetter Super Lotto (Wally Hennessey) right to the top of the stretch and then trotted away to a three length triumph in 1:58.3. Trot Monster (Jay Sears) was third.

Mark Rorabeck owns Southern Rain, a gelded son of Wewering-Saucy T, who is trained by Mike Deters. Southern Rain has now won 15 of 17 lifetime starts.

The biggest margin of victory on the night was scored by Baileysirishdream and trainer/driver Robert Roberts in the 3-year-old filly trot final. They sat an early pocket trip to Famous Valentine (Wally Hennessey) and then brushed to the lead by the opening quarter and never looked back, winning by 10-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2. Famous Valentine was second with Indigo Swirl (Bruce Ranger) third.

The daughter of Matchem Hanover-Lady Isabeau was bred and is owned by Barbara Bailey and also has an impressive lifetime record of 16 wins in 20 starts.