by Steve Wolf, senior director of marketing and communications, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – April 2, 2004 – Trotting Intruder ($9.60, $5.00, $4.00) took the lead for good by the opening quarter mile and trotted a :58 second last half mile in winning the $27,400 final of the Valley Victory Trotting Series Friday at Pompano Park by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:58.3.

(Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith)

Trotting Intruder and driver Donald Dupont capture the $27,400 final of the Valley Victory Trotting Series at Pompano Park Friday in 1:58.3 Friday.

Driven by Donald Dupont, trained by his wife, Marie, and owned by Ecuries Dupont and the Dupont Racing Stable of Florida and New Hampshire, Trotting Intruder posted his third straight win and sixth victory in eleven starts this year. Muscle Boss Vita (Bruce Ranger) was second with Breezer Tee (Mark O’Mara) third.

Previously unbeaten race favorite Regal Visitor saw his six-race win streak come to end when he went off stride at the very start of the race and finished last.

“Having the nine post on the outside did not help.” Said Wally Hennessey, the driver of Regal Visitor. “We started out of the gate well but then he caught a boot (knee boot) and went to running. Simple as that and he would not come back on stride.”

The 7th race feature started off with Breezer Tee (Mark O’Mara) going to the early lead but Dupont also had Trotting Intruder leaving from the outside and taking command at the opening quarter mile in :29.3. After the half-mile pole in a slow 1:00.3, Muscle Boss Vita came first over, grinding his way on the outside and nearly catching up with Trotting Intruder by the three-quarters in 1:29.

But down the stretch, Trotting Intruder was the strong horse, holding the field at bay. With the $13,700 winner’s share of the purse, the four-year-old stallion by Yankee Glide has now won $27,425 in 2004.

“I had no choice but to go to the front and stay there.” Dupont said about the race. “He (Trotting Intruder) has been very strong and felt good tonight. I did not even know the unbeaten horse had broken stride. I just wanted my horse on the lead.”

Jujitsu Hanover ($25.40) was the upset winner in the 12th race $10,000 Open Handicap Trot for trainer/driver Dewayne Minor with a half-length 1:56.4 triumph.

Catch Me If Ucan (George Napolitano, Jr.) started off the race on the lead from the rail but that was short lived as track record holder Lori Louise (Kevin Wallis) came cruising on the outside past the opening quarter mile in :27.2 to take command.

Hellava Hush (Tom Sells) then came first-over past the half in :58.1 to put the pressure on Lori Louise with Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger) following second-over with Jujitsu Hanover and Dewayne Minor in the flow of the race third-over to the three-quarters in 1:27.

By the top of the stretch, Sells cleared to the lead with Hellava Hush but they could not sustain down the stretch as Jujitsu Hanover out trotted them all to the wire. Guy Gets Girl was second with Hellava Hush third.

It was the fifth win in eight starts this year for Jujitsu Hanover, a four-year-old mare by Donerail, who is owned by Annemette Minor of Delray Beach, Florida.

In the 8th race $8,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, Hurricane Betsy ($33.80) and driver Tom Sells pulled off an upset at odds of 15-1, winning from off the pace by a neck in 1:55.2. Tasma Walton A (George Napolitano, Jr.) was second with Lady Astra A (David Ingraham) third. It was the second win this year for Hurricane Betsy, a seven-year-old mare by Cambest who is trained and co-owned by Lynn and Hollie Proesel of Loxahatchee, Florida.

It was a night for long shots to score at Pompano Park as eight horses paid better than 7-1 odds on the card. The highest payoff was 49-1 San Sebastian ($100.40) in the 9th race trot, that was the 10th $100+ winner of the season, 43-1 Screaming Snickers ($89.80) in the 10th race pace keyed a $7,519.70 trifecta payoff, 29-1 New York Winner ($60.00) won the 3rd race trot, 15-1 Hurricane Betsy ($33.80) scored in the 8th race pace, 14-1 Broward County ($30.80) took the 11th race, 11-1 Jujitsu Hanover ($25.40) scored in the 12th race, 8-1 Cole Hearted Babe ($19.20) won the 2nd race pace and 7-1 She’s The girl ($17.20) won the 13th race.

There may be a new world record double gaited horse on the rise as Chucara Ahijuna, the fastest Argentinean bred horse of all time with a record of 1:51.4 at Pompano Park on the pace, qualified Friday morning on the trot and won in 1:58.3 for a combined time of 3:50.2. Provided he can win on the trot in 1:57.4 or faster, he would become the world record holder. Earlier this season at Pompano Park, Remember Kate became the fastest double gaited mare of all time.