Dead-Heat spices up amateur action

Pompano Beach, FL, December 21, 2021 – Amateur driver harness racing action continued at Pompano Park as the Florida Amateur Driver Club contested three events over Super Night and Monday with a dead-heat spicing up the heated action.

The “heater” involved Steel Reserve, driven by Billy Muggleston, and Forbidden Song, with Brian Calvert handling his lines.

These two were in an epic battle as Forbidden Song, searching to reach two plateaus–$150,000 in career earnings and a 20th lifetime win—was trying desperately to protect a slowly vanishing lead with Steel Reserve, gnawing away and looking to reach the Pompano Park winner’s circle for the very first time.

After the judges reviewed the tight photo finish, it was determined that both horses had achieved their respective goals with the call of a “dead-heat.”

Steel Reserve, a nine-year-old gelded son of Credit Winner, is trained by Allen Saul for owner Billy Muggleston and now sports lifetime earnings just a shade under $250,000–$249,118, to be precise. He’s earned $41,935 tin 2021.

Forbidden Song, an altered six-year-old son of Forbidden, is trained by Donna Riedel for owner Johanna Calvert and, along with the 20 aforementioned wins, now has a career bankroll of $152,259–$49,504 this year.

DEAD HEAT REPLAY

Following the dead-heaters, Stache (Dennis Whittemore) finished third with Show Me The Money (Nick Coblentz) and Explosive Motion (Jamie Marra) next in the octet.

Muggleston now has 97 career wins, Calvert, a recent addition to the club, has 18.

The second FADC event went to Tech Titan, driven by Tony Dinges. The eight-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill swept up from sixth halfway through his mile and trotted his final half in :58 to score by 6 ¾ lengths over BJ Anthony, handled by Jamie Marra. P L Jerico was third for Gary Barbare while The Big Muscle, outside the entire route, was fourth for Joe Pennachio. The early leader, DW’s Revenge, finished fifth for Leon Cable.

Tech Titan, trained by Frankie Bambrick for owner Lee Clarke, has earnings this season of $35,589 and $161,706 lifetime.

Dinges now has 70 career wins in the sulky.

TECH TITAN REPLAY

The Monday FADC event went to Absolut Uncertenty, driven by “Sky” Walker. Owned by The Walker Stable and trained by “Sky,” The Muscle Mass six-year-old gelding also reached a milestone with his gate-to-wire win, vaulting his lifetime earnings over the century mark to $104,409…and it took a lifetime best 1:56.3 performance to do it off of fractions of :28.2, 58.2 and 1:27.3.

Little Big Rigs was second for Brian Calvert while Arclight Hanover and Ron Cusimano teamed up for third. Shoshie Deo was fourth for Kevin Banting while Phoenician, with Tony Dinges, finished fifth.

Walker left the winner’s circle with 163 driving successes.

ABSOLUT UNCERTENTY REPLAY

The Florida Amateur Driving Club has donated over $220,000 to worthwhile charitable organizations as their entire membership donates all driving earnings for distribution to charities such as Make-A-Wish and others benefiting child welfare, horse rescue and many other goodwill entities.

Also, of note on the Monday program, the ageless 12-year-old Hot Art, handled by Rick Plano for owner-wife Maryann, stepped up the claiming ladder again and won for the fourth straight time—this one in 1:51.4.

The gelded son of Art Major won with a “15,000” tag on November 28, scored in a “20” claimer on December 5 and 12 and, on Monday, reached the winner’s circle with a tag of $25,000.

He’s won 15 races in 37 starts this year and banked $82,593. Lifetime, Hot Art has 62 wins and $440,893 on his scorecard in a career measuring 293 starts.

He paid $3.20 as the public choice.

Racing continues of Tuesday night with post time set for 7:20 p.m with yet another $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 Pool with an industry low 12% takeout. The Super Hi-5 finale now boasts a jackpot of $34,875.

For full race results, click here.

by John Berry, for Pompano Park