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

Pompano Beach, FL — Undefeated 2-year-old trotter Whosgoinwhosstayin ($2.60) posted his fifth straight win on Wednesday (July 30) at Pompano Park, capturing the $40,000 Florida Stallion Stakes for colts and geldings.

In the $40,575 Florida Stallion Stakes for freshman filly trotters, it was Pearl Of Capri ($3.80) who posted her third win in five starts.

Both horses are now eligible for a $100,000 bonus if they can win the three remaining Florida Sire Stakes Finals that will be held in September and October.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Whosgoinwhosstayin captured the $40,000 Florida Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

In the Stallion Stakes for colts and geldings, driver Mickey McNichol sent Whosgoinwhosstayin to the lead from post five with Hard Work’n Rick (Tom Sells) grabbing the two hole spot to the opening quarter in :30. Backing it down to the half-mile mark in 1:02.4, Be Lachek and driver Wally Hennessey came first-over to challenge and pressed Whosgoinwhosstayin to the three-quarters in 1:32.2.

But in the stretch it was all Whosgoinwhosstayin, who pulled away to win by 2-3/4 lengths in a lifetime mark of 2:02. Be Lachek was second with Make Mine A Double (Dan Clements) third.

“This guy is a natural trotter,” said McNichol after the victory. “He is perfectly gaited and not done a thing wrong every time I have driven him.”

Sired by Basil, from the Wall Street Banker mare Benn’s Margie, Whosgoinwhosstayin is trained by Linda Kakaley, who co-owns the gelding with breeders Chris and Sophia Valkanoff.

Pearl Of Capri, who is named after the parent company of Pompano Park, the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., used the same front-end tactics in winning her Stallion Stakes race.

Driven by Dan Clements, Pearl Of Capri took the early lead away from Parsley Sprig (Wally Hennessey) and after fractions of :29.1, 1:01.4 and 1:32.1, pulled away in the stretch to win by three open lengths in 2:02.4. Parsley Sprig was second with Wally Jean (Mickey McNichol) third.

“She (Pearl Of Capri) is getting better with every start,” Clements said. “She is big and strong and always wants to trot.”

A bay filly by Famously, from the Keystone Smothers mare Jettas Pearl, Pearl Of Capri was bred and is owned by Frank and Inge Smith.

For driver Dan Clements, Pearl Of Capri was one of his four winners on the night.

In the $26,900 Hurricane Series for 3-year-old Florida-bred colt and gelding trotters, it was Southern Rain and driver Bruce Ranger edging out stablemate Super Lotto (Wally Hennessey) to win by a neck in 1:58.2. Famous Image (Walter Ross, Jr.) was third.

After three early lead changes, Super Lotto took command but made a costly break coming to the finish.

For Southern Rain, a gelded son of Wewering-Saucy T, it was his third straight win this year and 12th win in 14 career starts. He is owned by Mark Rorabeck and is trained by Mike Deters.

There were two $14,250 divisions of the Hurricane Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies. The fastest division was won by Baileysirishdream and trainer/driver Robert Roberts by two lengths in 1:59.4 over Indigo Swirl (Wally Hennessey) and Better Goods (Bruce Ranger).

It was the 12th win in 15 career starts for the daughter of Matchem Hanover-Lady Isabeau who was bred and is owned by Barbara Bailey.

The first division saw Waving Glory (Crown Can-Waving Flagg) and driver Robert Roberts come from second-over at the top of the stretch and out-kick three rivals to the wire to win by a neck in 2:01.2. Guided Miss Tique (Veral Bowman) was second with pacesetter Streeter (Robert Williams, Jr.) third.

Trained by Kim Sears and owned by Jay and Kim Sears, it was the third win this year for Waving Glory.