by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – April 1, 2005 – Fraher Hill Magic ($10.80) was able to edge race favorite Yankee Frisbee in the final strides and score a neck victory to capture the $24,700 final of the 12th annual Valley Victory Trotting Series at Pompano Park Friday in a lifetime best clocking of 1:57.2.

For winning driver Kevin Wallis, it was a banner night as he won five of the nine races on the program.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

FRAHER HILL MAGIC (#3) and driver Kevin Wallis beat out Yankee Frisbee (#1) and driver Bruce Ranger by a neck in the $24,700 final of the Valley Victory Trotting Series in 1:57.2 Friday at Pompano Park.

Ironically, Fraher Hill Magic is a grandson of the series namesake, Valley Victory and was one of two grandsons of Valley Victory that competed in the final. The other was second place finisher Yankee Frisbee.

The 7th race feature started off with Fraher Hill Magic and driver Kevin Wallis going to the early lead with Homesick Ranger (Mark O’Mara) getting the two-hole trip to the opening quarter mile in a mild :29.1.

Ranger started up on the outside with Yankee Frisbee and they were able to take command before the half mile pole in :59.1. Then in the backstretch, Table Wine (David Ingraham) came first-over with Along Comes Kevin (Wally Hennessey) getting the second-over trip as they reached the three-quarters in 1:28.1.

As the field turned for home, Table Wine went off-stride and that enabled Wallis to get clearance from the pocket-trip with Fraher Hill Magic and nailed Yankee Frisbee at the wire. Along Comes Kevin was third.

“I knew I had a good shot from the pocket trip coming around the final turn.” Said Kevin Wallis. “I just needed clearance to get momentum for my horse. And then when David Ingraham’s horse (Table Wine) went on a break that gave me the room to come out and just enough time for my horse to get into gear and catch Bruce Ranger at the finish. It was a great race.”

A four-year-old gelding by Valley Victor from the King Kong Ranger mare, Range Magician, it was the second win in ten starts this year for Fraher Hill Magic, who is trained by Linda Wallis and owned by Yvette Prudenzano and Basil Kellis of Wells, Maine.

Turn It On ($2.60) had little trouble winning the 3rd race $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace for driver Bruce Ranger in 1:53.1.

After ICU Miss (Kevin Wallis) and then Hyde Park Hussie N (Anthony Napolitano) has early lead, Ranger sent Turn In On to the front by the opening quarter mile and was never confronted. She went on to win by one and one-quarter lengths over Hyde Park Hussie N and ICU Miss.

It was the third straight win and fifth victory on the season in seven starts for the seven-year-old mare by Jate Lobell. She is trained by Ed Prinz, Jr. and owned by the Prinz, Smith and Fortino Stables of FL & IL.