by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Astute horse owner Lewis Whitaker of Boynton Beach, Fla., was paid an immediate dividend for the plan he executed for 3-year-old pacer Scirocco Andy on the Wednesday (April 27) program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

“It’s good for everyone with Peter Blood taking on an ownership share in addition to taking over training the horse,” Whitaker explained after the Real Desire-Daddyluvsyou gelding earned a life’s mark of 1:54.1 over conditioned/claiming company. “Mike Micallef, my regular trainer and driver, has had a great first year here in Florida but he might have to head up to New York State in May. We thought about racing ‘Andy’ up north too but we’ve reconsidered. So it works out great that he can stay and race right here at Pompano through July and this Fall too.”

The life’s record performance on Wednesday evening shaved almost three seconds off the previous mark for Scirocco Andy and it ran his current win streak to three races.

“Now it’ll be decision time on how to classify him,” Whitaker said after the solid off the pace win for his horse in the $7,500 claiming class restricted to non-winners of three races lifetime. “We won’t likely be able to get back into a class like that so we’ll find out soon enough if he can keep this win streak going.”

Dailey on track for best career year

Trainer Doreen Dailey is quietly going about the business of putting herself in position for her best career year to date, thanks to amassing three wins with her first eight starters this year at Pompano.

The 46-year-old conditioner from Oneida, N.Y., resides in Freehold, N.J. She’s training 4-year-old trotting mare Ginger Tree Wanda for Celebrity Farms of N.Y. at the current meet. The daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Ginger Tree Megan earned a hard fought first over win on the Wednesday evening program with Mike Micallef in the bike. Ginger Tree Wanda has won half of her last six starts at the South Florida venue and she stepped to a life’s mark of 1:55.4 in February.

Dailey’s previous best statistics were posted in 2008 and 2009 when she harnessed up 11 winners from limited starters in each of those years.

Andover America scores in 1:56

The Wednesday evening winners over trotting handicap feature went to 3-5 favorite Andover America in 1:56 with Tom Sells subbing in the bike for the injured Bruce Ranger. It was the fifth win in 11 starts this year for Andover America as he defeated stablemate Keystone Thomas with Walter Ross, Jr. in the bike and Gianna, driven by Dan Clements.

Stewart Nemiro of the Bruce Ranger Stable trains Andover America for McTrade Enterprises of Davie, Fla.

Racing resumes on Saturday evening, April 30, featuring the $14,000 winners over handicap pace. There’s free live streaming and replays available in the ‘racing’ tab at www.theislepompanopark.com.