Rivalries renew in Florida Sunshine Stakes Finals

This Saturday, November 15, the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) will host the eight harness racing finals of the Florida Sunshine Stakes at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village in Delray Beach.

Each of the eight finals are for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers. The first race gets underway at 11:00 am.

Nola Christian (Stormin Normand) puts her four-race winning streak on the line in the sixth race final for three-year-old trotting fillies. Trained, owned and bred by Thomas Casey of Deleon Springs, Nola Christian sports an impressive record this year with seven wins in nine starts, the fastest a lifetime mark of 1:57.

Nola Christian will start from post one for driver Mike Wilder and their main rival will be Sunshine Jet (Odino Jet) from post two for driver-trainer Nicholas Coblentz and owner-breeder Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach.

A fierce rivalry continues in the seventh race final for three-year-old colts and gelding trotters as Jays Gator Boy (Rose Run Nolan) goes head-to-head once again against Delray Jet (Odino Jet).

Opening weekend of the series saw Delray Jet and driver Richard Hoffman beat Jays Gator Boy by one length. Then last week it was Jays Gator Boy and driver Mickey McNichol dictating the fractions and holding off Delray Jet in a torrid stretch drive by three-quarters of a length.

Also of note, Dances With Gators (Dancin Yankee) in the first race final for two-year-old pacing fillies goes for her fourth straight win. She is trained by Mickey McNichol for owner-breeder George Birkhold of Sarasota and will be driven from post one for driver Ted Bookstaver.

Dances With Gators sports three wins in just four career starts.

Parking and admission are free at Sunshine Meadows. Patrons are urged to bring your own lawn chairs. Free race programs will be provided by the FSBOA while supplies last.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries

by Steve Wolf, for the Florida Chapter of USHWA