Coblentz wins five in Sunshine State Stakes

Delray Beach, FL…Nov. 18, 2023…The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) presented the $68,500 Finals of the Sunshine State Stakes for harness racing two-year-olds and three-year-olds on Saturday (Nov. 18) with trainer Nick Coblentz repeating his heroics of last week with five trips to the winner’s circle.

Wally Hennessey had a driving triple on the eight race non-wagering program while Frank Affrunti had a double.

Here’s a wrap-up of the Stakes action:

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT ($8,000)

Bellarina Jet (Odina Jet) kept her young racing career blemish free—now 3-for-3— by winning the Sunshine State Stakes Final, repelling a threat at the top of the long Sunshine Meadows stretch from P’s Just Peachy, driven by Marshall Makin, before going on to an 18-length romp in 2:08. With Wally Hennessey in her sulky for trainer Nick Coblentz and owner Amante Standardbreds, Bellarina Jet used, virtually, the same strategy as in her previous wins with fractions of :33.1 and 1:05.4 before P’s Just Peachy looked the leader in the eye at the third station in 1:37 before making a costly miscue to lose all chance.

Said Hennessey after the win, “Maybe the time doesn’t quite match up with some of them but she doesn’t make mistakes and I’m sure the owners would rather have the big share of an $8,000 purse than a sixth or seventh in a 1:58 mile.”

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT ($8,750)

Okeechobee Jet (Odino Jet), once again, completed the unique daily double for driver Hennessey, trainer Coblentz, the sire Odino Jet and the Amante Standardbred stable by using a sharp :29 finale to score a five-length win in 2:03.2. With a bit of “musical chairs” going with lead changes the first half mile off of fractions of :31 and 1:03, Okeechobee Jet stalked the leading Prairie Friendly, handled by Frank Affrunti, before sailing by that one once straightened away to widen his advantage to the wire. The early leader, Watching The Mets, was third for Tony Dinges while Legacy’s Casanova and Prairie Possession banked the final two awards.The winner is undefeated as his early career progresses and now shows three straight wins.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE ($8,250)

In a rousing finish, Dance With Destiny (A Rocknroll Dance), driven by owner Joe Sanzeri, used a :28 kick home to nudge by Sweet Scarlett, handled by Tony Dinges, in the final stride to get the photo finish win in 2:06.4. Prairie Kitten, with Dan Harvey in the sulky, was third in the trio. Sanzeri, leaving from post one, stalked the leader, Sweet Scarlet through soft panels of :32, 1:06 and 1:38.2 before the speed explosion down the lane to the wire.

Nick Coblentz was the winning trainer—his third straight on the card—and was very proud of both the filly and the driver saying, “Joe (Sanzeri) doesn’t do that much driving anymore but he did what he had to do and had a filly that helped him every stride home. I’m proud of them both!”

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE ($8,750)

Gator Pledthefifth (Well Said) with trainer Mickey McNichol handling the lines for owner George Birkhold, finally broke his maiden after two second place finishes and romped home by 9 1/2 lengths over arch rival Prairie Gorgeous, driven by Dan Harvey, hitting the wire in 1:59,3, Leaving the gate with alacrity this day from his outside five post, Gator Pledthefifth was on the bit from the start and took command for good from Prairie Gorgeous just after then opening :29 marker. Gliding through subsequent panels of :58.1 and 1:28.1, the issue was put out of reach turning for home  as the winning margin kept growing to the wire. Prairie Achiever was third for Wally Hennessey while Prairie Rocknroll and Don’t Pet The Gator earned the final two awards.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT ($9,000)

Legacy’s Jailbreak (Dontyouforgetit) whose eight race career has been exclusively at Sunshine Meadows, made it 3-for-3 in 2023 and 7-for-8 lifetime with a gate-to wire score for Tony Dinges, in the bike for owner-trainer Nick Coblentz. Beginning from the coveted one post, Legacy’s Jailbreak clocked panels of :31 and 1:02.4 for the first half mile, stole away from the field during a stepped-up :29.1 third quarter and came home in a comfortable :30 to break the final beam in 2:02. Atlantic Wave, handled by Alessandro Spano, was second while King’s Sweetheart, with Kevin Wallis driving, finished third after recovering from a miscue behind the gate leaving. Prairie Ranga finished fourth and JJ Forgetaboutit picked up the nickel in the sestet.

Said Dinges after the win, “She always likes to join the fray from the get-go and, with the inside, today was no different. When she hears another one coming after her, she just pricks up her ears and fights.”

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT ($8,750)

Seminole Moon (Shibboleth Hanover), knocking at the door in two previous starts at Sunshine Meadows, finally unlocked the door to the winners circle with a sharp 1:59.1 performance for driver Frank Affront. The Lisa Martin trainee, owned by Mary Martin along with Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, picked a fine time to get this first win at SsM in defeating Rhinestone Camo, driven by Mickey McNichol with Prairie Famous next for Tony Dinges. Prairie Nugget and Captain Cam completed the roster here as Seminole Moon vaulted his 2023 earnings to $21,123 with the win—his third lifetime and second this semester in 18 starts.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE ($8,250)

Flo Jo (Keystone Velocity), driven by Wally Hennessey, used a :58.4 final half on the front end coasted home a six length winner to keep her  2023 record perfect at 5-for-5. Trained by Nick Coblentz for owner Mr. Dale Witcher II, Hennessey used a strong brush after the opening pedestrian opener in :32, took command and lolly-gagged to the half in 1:04.1 and held the field at bay as the pace quickened thereafter. Twowordsmadein USA, with Rob Hoffman in the sulky, finished second while Prairie Lynx, teamed with Kevin Wallis, was another neck back in third completing the roster.

After the race, Hennessey lamented, “Robbie (Hoffman) was trying to give his horses a rated drive and I thought I’d better brush now before he got to a real ‘cheap’ half. After that, we picked up the pace to try and thwart any rallies from the back and it worked out. Flo Jo raced like a true Olympic champ.”

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE ($8,750)

Frank Affrunti gave Flying For Trev (Domethatagain) a perfectly rated drive and wired his competition in a startling 1:56—bettering his previous mark by 5 3/5 seconds. After rating his charge to a half in :59, Flying for Trev, second in his first two tries over this one mile oval, took matters into his own hooves this time out and never let a foe get within two lengths during the entire route. Trained by Jeff Seekman for Marie Marsh, The winner scored by 2 3/4 lengths over Easy As That, handled by Tony Dinges, interrupting that one’s two race winning skein. Gator Growl was third for Kevin Wallis, followed by The Honkytonk and Constant Velocity. The win also gave Affrunti a driving double on the program.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for the FSBOA