Big time action at Pompano this weekend

Pompano Beach, FL…November 28, 2015…Pompano Park, enjoying a very "quick out of the gate start" for their 2015-16 harness racing season, is featuring a very "steep" Open pace on Saturday night along with a carryover of close to $10,000 in their Super Hi-5 finale followed by Super Night Sunday, with that card offering well over $450,000 in purses.

 

For Saturday starters, Pompano is offering their traditional Open Pace, featuring a sextet with lifetime earnings well over $2 million, as well as many sub-1:50 performances.

 

Panocchio, the new all-age track record with a scintillating 1:48.3 performance on November 8, has been assigned the outside six post in the field and has been made the 2 to 1 morning line favorite, having been undefeated in his three fall starts in South Florida.

 

Owned by Emile Johnson, Jr. along with trainer Jim Mattison, Dan Clements is expected back in the bike on Saturday night looking to push Panocchio's win total to 12 this year and 36 lifetime. He's banked $110,622 this semester to push his lifetime bounty to $285,267.

 

Bandolito, the author of the fastest mile in this talented group–1:48 set last year–also has a 1:48.1 mile to his credit this year and comes off a win in his Pompano fall debut, having covered the oval in 1:51.4 last week.

 

Bandolito, leaving from post five and the 5 to 2 second choice, also has a mile to his credit in 1:48.2, featuring a final half in :52.1, said to be the fastest final four furlongs in history.

 

Owner-trainer Jenny Bier has, once again, hired Kevin Wallis to drive Bandolito, who comes into the action with $423,110 in lifetime bounty.

 

The richest performer in the field, Duc Dorleans, has won $550,102 career-wise to go along with a mark of 1:48.4 and begins his one mile journey from post four for Donald Dupont, who handled the lines for trainer Jacques Dupont. He has been listed as 4 to 1 on the morning line.

 

Also getting much deserved respect is number three, Alexa's Jackpot, trained by Marty Fine, listed at 7 to 2.

 

In three Pompano Park starts, Alexa's Jackpot has chased Panocchio home every start and cut the mustard in Panocchio's track record performance.

 

Veteran Canadian driver Steve Condren will handle the lines back of Alexa's Jackpot, coming into the event with $273,991 to go along with a mark of 1:49.3.

 

Lyon's Johnny, bottled up all the way home in its last start, leaves from post two with trainer Mike Micallef back in the bike Saturday night.

 

Lyons Johnny, too, owns a sub-1:50 mark–1:49.1–and has $273,424 in lifetime earnings. He opened his Pompano fall season with a pair of wins in Open company.

 

Archetto Hanover, leaving from the rail, has yet to gain a 1:50 winning mile to his credit, however, he ran out of racetrack while finishing a fast closing second in 1:50.2 at The Meadows some weeks ago.

 

Ed Hensley will be in the sulky for trainer Doug Hinkin.

 

In Saturday's finale, the Super Hi-5 has a carryover within a "whisker" of $10,000 with a very competitive field of claiming pacers assembled by Race Secretary Greg DeFrank.

 

Sunday, the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association presents its annual Super Night, featuring eight Florida Breeders Stakes finals for two and three year-olds worth a total of $435,850.

 

 

The $53,300 event for juvenile trotting colts and geldings features Rexamillion, coming into the action after sweeping the Sunshine State Stakes, Stallion Stake and Aylor Memorial.

 

This, too, is a non-wagering event with Bob Roberts expected in the bike for trainer Kim Sears.

 

On the pari-mutuel program, the $53,600 Breeders Stake for two year-old pacing colts and geldings pits Gleneagles and Conman's Dream against each other in this sextet.

 

Gleneagles has had the upper hand in their last four outings, however, Conman's Dream has been gnawing away at Gleneagles, just a neck back in his last encounter.

 

Wally Hennessey will drive Gleneagles while Conman's Dream will be handled by Jason Mac Dougall.

 

The $56,100 event for trotting colts and geldings features the outstanding Prairie Fortune, that has swept through the competition unscathed and unthreatened in five Pompano fall starts. Trainer Mike Deters will drive looking to do the "next to impossible" feat of improving on his already .895 UDRS covering 17 starts.

 

Deters will return to the bike the very next race when he guides the unbeaten Prairie Sweetheart in the $54,600 Breeders Final for the two year-old pacing fillies.

 

Prairie Sweetheart is six-for-six with a track record tying 1:53.3 performance in her last start.

 

He main opponent appears to be the Bob Barker trained Caitlin's Romance, that has chased the "Sweetheart" home in her past five starts.

 

 

The three year-old event worth $54,200 for three year-old pacing colts and geldings features a field of six, including three "break-away" sophomores–Owosso Flash, Caesar's Forum and Drake.

 

While Owosso Flash and Caesar's Forum have put on some of the most exciting duels in recent memory, it was Drake who picked up the pieces to break his maiden with a 1:54.1 winning effort in his last start–the Stallion Stake–after Owosso Flash and Caesar's Forum got into a middle half war–:54.2–leaving the door open for the upset.

 

Owosso Flash will be driven by trainer Deters while Caesar's Forum will have Wally Hennessey in the bike. Drake will have the driving services of veteran Bob Roberts.

 

The $55,550 Breeders Stake for three year-old fillies caps the F.S.B.O.A. Super Night festivities with Gold Star Dynasty–also trained by Mike Deters–looking to put the finishing touches by completing the fall sweep of Stakes events. Aaron Byron is expected to handle the lines.

 

Post time for Super Night Sunday is 7:30 p.m.