by Frank Salive, publicity director, The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — It was a race with a few anxious moments for the winner but 10-year-old veteran trotting mare Cast British, in rein to Jamie Rucker, survived an inquiry and won the Sweetheart Ladies Drivers’ Race on Saturday, Feb. 13, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Jamie Rucker piloted Cast British to a 1:59.1 triumph.

“My fiancee, Ricky Macomber, Jr., usually drives her and he said to be on guard because she can be a little fussy,” Rucker said to the Isle’s John Berry in a live post-race TV interview. “I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention when she made that brief break in the backstretch. I was lucky she quickly came back to the trot and her back class showed since she was fine the rest of the way.”

The mare by British Sterling-Sacrify, owned and trained by Dick Macomber, had been exclusively a hard closer when driven by Ricky Macomber, Jr. this meet. In the Sweetheart event, however, Rucker went right down the road in :28.4, :59, 1:28.1 and 1:59.1 to capture the 16th driving win of her career. Jim’s Little Red with Miriam Toland followed second under the wire with Southern Beauty in rein to Brooke Nickells closing from last in the field of eight starters for third.

The $4,000 claiming trotters usually race for a $3,500 purse but for this event that was upped to a $6,000 pot. The other five drivers in the field included Luanna Beeson, Diane Hellen, Gro Formia, Anne Schlichtig, and Kelly Case.

The Feb. 13 program in South Florida featured the fastest trotting mile of the entire 2009-2010 campaign as McCoy was a solid 1:54.3 winner in rein to George Napolitano, Jr. It was also a life’s mark for the 6-year-old Yankee McCoy-Celebrity Connie gelding trained by Dan Hennessey for John Campagnuolo.

“That was quite a mile and I don’t exactly know where it came from,” Hennessey said in the winner’s circle after the $13,000 Open Handicap Trot. “It’s really impressive because it’s a cooler night here with the temperature dropping into the 40s. I guess it’s just proof that (driver) George Napolitano, Jr. gets along really well with this horse.”

Dan Hennessey’s Hall of Fame driving brother, Wally, was given his choice of the two starters from Dan’s barn in the event and chose Colie’s. That pair cut the first fraction of :27.4 but surrendered the lead to McCoy who sailed home the rest of the way through the middle stages of :57 and 1:25.1. Andover America in rein to Bruce Ranger persisted from the assigned outside post in the field of eight starters to hold second in the place photograph over a hard charging NF Soaring with Brooke Nickells.

The $13,000 Open Handicap Pace was one of several cliffhangers on the 16-race doubleheader agenda. The decision went to Four Starz Bling with Wally Hennessey in tow in 1:51.2 as they made a first over move to the lead in the third quarter to overtake Vapor In The Wind with Ricky Macomber, Jr. Daley Deposit Only with Dan Daley up took the first lead and withstood being shuffled back in the middle stages, and their late bid for the top prize narrowly missed. McRyan Michael with Joe Pavia, Jr. took a ground saving trip and brushed up for third.

Four Starz Bling thus earned his first win of 2010. The Blissfull Hall-Carrietowne 8-year-old gelding is trained by Ray Vizzi for New Jenneration Stable. This win pushed his career earnings to more than $343,000.