FSBOA Stakes season underway at Sunshine Meadows

Delray Beach, Florida…November 4, 2023…Yes, baseball’s World Series is over, but the baseball frenzy continued on Saturday (Nov. 4) as the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) presented the opening round of their harness racing stakes season at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village.

Wally Hennessey, Nick Coblentz and Tony Dinges were the stars of the day as Hennessey and Coblentz hit “grand slams” in their respective driving and training categories while Dinges had a “triple” during the afternoon in the bike and also had a “double” on the training side.

Here’s the rundown on the eight events featuring two-year-olds and three-year-olds.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT ($2,825)

Bellarina Jet (Odino Jet) made her racing debut for trainer Nick Coblentz and owner Amante Standardbreds a winning one by turning a two-horse race into somewhat of a “walkover” when her competitor jumped it off at the start allowing driver Wally Hennessey to cruise around the one mile oval in 2:07, clocking panels of :33, 1:05.1 and 1:37 along the way.

P’s Just Peachy was the distant second.

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT ($3,150)

Okeechobee Jet (Odino Jet) completed a “daily double” in a rare feat involving trainer Coblentz, owner Amante Standardbreds, driver Wally Hennessey and sire Odino Jet as they teamed up to score a sharp 2:01 win in his racing debut, sweeping the “early daily double.” The winner, some 11 1/2 lengths back at the opening marker of :30.4, trotted his final 3/4s in a shade better than 1:28.

Coblentz put icing in the cake by driving his own Legacy’s Casanova to a second place finish, two lengths back of the winner.

Prairie Friendly, handled by Frank Affrunti, finish third, followed by Watching The Mets and Prairie Possession.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE ($2,950)

Sweet Scarlett (Boston Red Rocks), driven by trainer Tony Dinges for owner Michelle Clarke, took charge first stride off the wings, lolly-gagged over to the half in 1:06.2, repelled a bit of pressure at the third station and then roared home in :28.2 to score in 2:07.4 over Prairie Kitten, driven by Dan Harvey with Dance With Destiny, with Joe Sanzeri handling the lines, third, less than two lengths away. It was the second win in five starts for Sweet Scarlet

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE ($3,175)

Prairie Gorgeous (Dude’s The Man) out-gunned the competition early and pulled away late in recording a six length win for Dan Harvey, who was in the bike for owner-trainer Laurie Poulin. Making her racing debut, Prairie Gorgeous  zipped off panels of :30 and 1:02.1 before a :58 second final half easily sealed the issue over Gator Pledthefifth, driven by Mickey McNichol. Prairie Rocknroll was another three lengths back in third followed by Prairie Achiever with Don’t Pet The Gator picking up the nickel.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT ($3,600)

Legacy’s Jailbreak (Dontyouforgetit), with Tony Dinges in the bike for owner-trainer Nick Coblemtz, smartly stayed off the hot :28.4 early pace, brushed to the top during a tepid second  quarter and lengthened her lead from there to score a five length win in 2:02.1 over the early leader Kings Sweetheart, handled by Kevin Wallis. Atlantic Wave, with Alessandro Spano in the sulky, was third  with Prairie Range and JJ Forgetaboutit earning the final awards in this sextet.

This was the initial start of the season for Legacy’s Jailbreak who now sports five wins in six lifetime starts—her time on this day just one tick off her career best here at Sunshine Meadows last season.

THREE -YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT ($3,550)

In the closest finish of the afternoon, Prairie Nugget (Shibboleth Hanover) held on gamely in the final stages to score a 1:57.3 win for Wally Hennessey, who was in the bike for trainer Lisa Martin and owners Mary Martin and Laurie Poulin. The winner needed every bit of a :28,3 finale to hold off the fastest closing Seminole Moon, driven by Frank Affrunti, to score by a head. Rhinestone Camo, with Mickey McNichol handling the lines, was third, followed by Prairie Famous and Captain Cam. It was a new lifetime mark for Prairie Nugget.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE ($3,300)

Flo Jo (Keystone Velocity), given superb handling by Wally Hennessey, took charge as the gate left the station and put up opening numbers of :30 and 1:01, repelled a mild challenge during the third panel and accelerated home in :27.4 to score an eight length win in 1:58.4. Owned by Mr. Dale Witcher II and trained by Nick Coblentz, the win gave both Hennessey and Coblentz  a “grand slam” on the card and Kept Flo Jo’s perfect record in tact this semester at 3-for-3.

Twowordsmadein USA, with Rob Hoffman in the sulky, was second while Prairie Lynx was a distant third for Kevin Wallis.

After the race, Hennessey related, “She raced super today. Nick (trainer Coblentz) has, lobviously done a great job getting them ready and the track was super today, as well.

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE ($3,550)

Easy As That (Tarver Hanover), winless in 19 starts coming Into this action, made a sweeping move halfway through his mile and went on to cruise to a lifetime best 1:55.1 win for trainer-driver Tony Dinges, in the bike for Lee Clarke. Fourth and last halfway through the mile, Dinges asked Easy As That heading into the final bend and, easy as that, Easy As That responded with a strong brush that put him on the lead right at the third station before locking the door with a :28.2 brush home. Flying For Trev was next for Frank Affrunti while the early leader, Gator Growl, was third. Constant Velocity completed the quarter.

In a post race interview, Dinges said, “I just chirped a time or two and off he went. Was I surprised? Not really, as he showed he had some good lines coming in. He was pretty solid up north!”

The win capped the driving triple for Dinges along with a training double.

FSBOA Stakes racing continues every Saturday with Super Saturday scheduled for December 9 and the Delray Beach mile oval. Post time is 11:00 a.m. every racing day.

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

by John Berry, for the FSBOA