$120,000 Florida Stallion Stakes held Saturday

Harness racing continued at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village on Saturday as $120,000 was up for grabs in the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) sponsored Florida Stallion Stakes for two-year-olds and three-year-olds trotters and pacers. All races were non-wagering events.

Matt Krueger with three wins and Tony Dinges with a pair of successes each benefitted from rare walkover wins while Wally Hennessey had a pair of wins, as well, pushing his 2022 total to 340 and vaulting his purse winnings over the $3.1 million plateau—his best year since 1999.

On the training side of the ledger, Dinges had a “hat trick” while Kim Sears doubled up on the eight-race program.

Here are the official Stallion Stake results with all purses $15,000:

Two-Year-Old Filly Trot—Atlantic Wave (Odino Jet), driven by Alesasandro Spano for trainer-owner Sergio Corona, stalked the leading Prairie Ranga, handled by Marc Major, through panels of :32.4, 1:05.2 and 1:34.2 before taking command turning for home and stretching the lead to five lengths at the wire. Pixie Jet, with Matt Krueger in her bike, was third. It was a maiden win for Atlantic Wave in, this, her fourth start and vaulted her earnings from $2,624 to $10,874.

Two-Year-Old Gelding Trot—Prairie Famous (Diamond Goal), who began giving hints two starts ago, made a bold move from fourth halfway through the mile and wore down his foes in deep stretch to score a maiden win in 2:03 for Tony Dinges, in the bike for trainer Lisa Martin. Owned by Mary Martin along with Laurie Poulin, Prairie Famous was two lengths clear of Rhinestone Camo, with Mickey McNichol in the sulky. Prairie Nugget, with Wally Hennessey handling the lines, took command turning for home but would up third, 3 1/2 lengths away. Prairie Famous came into the action with earnings of $1,179 and came through the winner’s circle with bounty of $8,679.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies—Prairie Lynx (Royal Millennium) withstood a spirited attack from stablemate Prairie Special to hit the wire first in 2:01, highlighted by a final panel in :28. Wally Hennessey was in the sulky back of the winner for trainer Tony Dinges while Dinges, himself, was in the bike of Prairie Special. Prairie Magical was third for Dan Harvey, driving for trainer Laurie Poulin. Ironically, the race honored the memory of one of the most influential sires in Florida racing, Royal Millennium, who was the sire of the first three finishers. Prairie Lynx now has four wins in 10 starts to go along with a Vernon Downs mark of 1:56.2. She’s banked $16,755 so far.

Two-Year-Old Gelding Pace—Easy As That (Tarver Hanover), enjoying the services of Wally Hennessey, broke his maiden after seven starts by scoring in 1:59.3. JC Diamond, driven by Matt Krueger, closed fastest of all—:28.4— to finish a length away at the wire while The Honkytonk finished third in this trio. The winner cut panels of :29.3, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 along the way to send his bankroll from $2,637 to $10,907. Tony Dinges does the training for owner Lee Clarke.

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot—In a match race of sorts, Charis (Shibboleth Hanover) drafted along back of I’m Solar Powered through fractions of :31.4 1:04 and 1:35, tilted out at the head of the long Sunshine Meadows lane, and rolled away to a two length win for Matt Krueger, in the bike for trainer Curtis Carey and the Exceed Stables, in 2:07.4. It was the first win of the season in four starts for Charis, who now boasts earnings of $29,207 to go along with a lifetime scorecard of 4-3-2 in nine starts.

Three-Year-Old Gelding Trot—in a rare walkover event, Oh No Not Again (Desperado Don) waltzed around the spacious one mile oval sawing through fractions of :31, 1:02.1 and 1:32.1 before cruising to the wire in 2:04, a lifetime mark. Trainer Tony Dinges was in the sulky for owner Lee Clarke. Ironically, this was the second lifetime win for Oh No Not Again with the other win coming last year…in a walkover, as well. Now with $50,220 in lifetime earnings, Oh No Not Again has won $32,000 of that in walkover events.

Three-Year-Old Filly Pace—Benecio (Six Of Diamonds) got a crafty drive from Matt Krueger to repel the serious bid of Prairie Merida (Wally Hennessey) at mid-stretch to score a two length win in 1:58. Neverouttathefight was next after being in the garden spot most of the way. Krueger send Benecio right to the front from her inside post position and went an opening panel of :30.4 before lolly-gagging to the half in 1:02 with Prairie Merida almost six lengths back in third. The pace began to pick up from there as Prairie Merida began to close the gap but Benicia’s :27 finale sealed the deal. The win vaulted Benicia’s career bankroll just short of the $30,000 mark—$29,918 to be precise—for owner trainer Kim Sears.

Three-Year-Old Gelding Pace—Vinnie V (Six Of Diamonds) who made one single start last season—a walkover winning $17,000—benefitted from another one this semester, as well, sailing through fractions of :31.1, 1:04 and 1:34 before strolling home in :31.2 to hit the wire in a lifetime best 2:05.2. (He paced in 2:00.3 in his last start finishing second in a match race). Matt Krueger handled the lines for trainer Kim Sears, who co-owns with Joseph Chindano,Sr. In five career starts, Vinnie V has won $38,324 with $32,000 of that total the result of walkovers.

Racing continues next Saturday with the Melvyn Aylor and Tom Audley Stakes heading the festivities. Post time is set for 11:00 a.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Berry, for the FSBOA