Week two of FSBOA’s Sunshine Stakes season

Delray Beach, FL…Nov. 9, 2024…The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association hosted week two of their five week Florida Sunshine Stakes season on Saturday (Nov. 9) and, once again, Nick Coblentz dominated the eight race harness racing program with five training wins—two of those in the driver’s seat himself—one benefitting from a disqualification.

For the second week in a row, driver Rob Hoffman had a driving double

In the owner category, Amante Standardbreds found a pair of winners in the charmed circle.

Here’s a recap of the action:

Sunshine Stake—Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies ($2,875)

Prairie Puma (Royal Millennium), who broke her maiden in 2:05 from off-the-pace last week, knocked three seconds off that this time around by romping home in 2:02 for Dein Spriggs—an eight length winner over Gator Time, driven by George Birkhold, Jr. with Prairie Love next for Nick Coblentz. In the garden spot back of a stubborn leader, Spriggs left the comfort of the garden spot turning for home and drew off in the final stages for the handy win. Spriggs co-own the filly with trainer Tony Dinges and pushed her scorecard to 2-0-2 in four starts after being competitive in Virginia’s Preseason events to start her career.

Sunshine Stake—Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies ($2,875)

In a hotly contested event, Sunshine Jet (Odina Jet), driven by trainer Nick Coblemts was awarded the victory, moved up a notch by the judges after suffering interference midway through his mile at the hoofs of Nola Christian, with Jamie Marra in the bike, who crossed the wire first in 2:11 but, after lengthy deliberation, was “DQ’d” to third. Also benefitting by the placing was Gatorland Nolette, driven by Mickey McNichol, who was placed second. Sunshine Jet, who won his racing debut at Sunshine Meadows last week, now still has an unblemished record with this second win. The winner is owned by Amante Standardbreds.

Sunshine Stake—Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings ($2,875)

Prairie Hustle (Don’t Let’em) survived a miscue during the opening quarter and, after regaining composure, closed fastest of all to capture his event for trainer-driver Nick Coblentz to break his maiden in 2:08 In, this, his 11th lifetime start. The youngster, relegated to last after his missteps, looked to be in a tough situation off the leader’s pedestrian fractions of :34 and 1:07 but, after things heated up during the third panel, trotted his final half in 1:00.2 to collar the leading Delray Jet, driven by Rob Hoffman, by a length on the wire. Jays Gator Boy, in the garden spot much of the way, was next.

Sunshine Stake-Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings ($2,875)

In a stirring finish, Gold Star Lucky (Luck Be Withyou) used a :28 blitz home to score a photo finish victory for driver Rob Hoffman in a lifetime best 1:58, eclipsing his former mark of 1:59.4—his maiden win—last week. Trained by Nick Coblentz for Marianne and Maggie Audley, the gelding was second through opening fractions of :28.4, :59.4 and 1:29 with the leader, Dating A Virgin, stretching his lead under the guidance of Coblentz, but Gold Star Lucky rallied once straightened away and just got up as the announcer said, “It could go either way!” Gator Rocks finished third for George Birkhold.

Sunshine Stake—Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies. ($2,800)

With the three-year-old Florida eligibles now in the spotlight, Dance With Destiny (A Rocknroll Dance), superbly handled by owner Joe Sanzeri, used identical strategy as last week from the inside post to score a win measuring 1 1/4 lengths in 2:05.3 over now arch-rival Prairie Kitten, with Tony Dinges in the bike. Trained by Nick Coblentz, Sanzeri was able to lolly-gag through early fractions of :33 and 1:07 before he was forced to dampen any threats with a :58 final half, including a:28.2 jaunt home to protect his lead and the win. The lightly raced filly now haas a 4-3-1 scorecard in her 10 lifetime starts—five each year, thus far.

Sunshine Stake—Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies ($2,800)

P’s Just Peachy (Big Chocolate), discombobulated around the opening turn, calmed down and got down to business with 76-year-old Marshall Makin in her sulky and went open to score a handy win in 2:05.3, breaking her maiden in the process. Turning the tables on arch-rival Bellarina Jet, P’s Just Peach put up all the numbers—:31.2, 1:02.1 and 1:34—before her effortless trip home in :31.3 easily sealed the issue this time around. Makin, now with 729 driving wins and 666 training successes in his career, co-owns with Rebecca Glassford.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings ($2,800)

In what was a virtual replay of one week ago, Amante Standardbreds’ Okeechobee Jet (Odina Jet) wore down rival Legacy’s Casanova, with Tony Dinges handling the lines, to score in 2:00.3. Legacy’s Casanova, once again, out-brushed Okeechobee Jet off the wings and sawed through panels of : :31 and 1:03 with the pace accelerating during the third panel—:28.3—with the sprint home underway. These two raced as a team in the lane with Okeechobee Jet edging clear ninth final yards for the win—his fifth of the year in 12 starts. He’s now 11 for 18 in the win column lifetime with bounty edging over $56,000.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings ($2,800)

Gator Pledthefifth (Well Said) driven by George Birkhold, put the “pedal to the metal” in the third quarter against arch rival Prairie Achiever, driven by Tony Dinges, and went on to score the win in a lifetime best 1:57, featuring a final half in :55.3. Using the inside post to perfection, Birkhold was able to rate his charge through opening panels of :31 and 1:01.2 before the fireworks began to the tune of a :26.4 third quarter—possible the fastest in the history of Sunshine Meadows. Home in :28.4 Gator Pledthefifth, trained by Mickey McNichol for owner George Birkhold,  was a length up on the line in his lifetime best performance.

Racing continues at Sunshine Meadows on Saturday, November 16 with post time set for 11:00 a.m.

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

by John Berry, for the FSBOA