by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Escuela scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s $10,000 Open Handicap Trot on Monday (Nov. 16) night.

Skip Smith photo

Escuela, driven by Ed Hensley, scored a repeat win in Monday night’s $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park.

The 5-year-old daughter of ABC Garland, driven by Ed Hensley and dead last early on, used her patented devastating closing punch to score by a length over She’s All In, handled by Rick Plano with Cashahallic and Aaron Byron teaming up for third and just another neck back in the mile timed in 1:55.2.

Rainbow Gold was fourth while Pounce Hanover picked up the nickel in the octet.

As the Hummer wings opened, She’s All In darted out from post five into a quick early lead with Pounce Hanover settling in the garden spot and Highland Yankee third followed by Count Speed, Uriel, Cashahallic, Rainbow Gold and, finally, Escuela, about nine lengths away at the :27.4 opener.

Under the wire the first time, the action heated up as an outer tier developed with Uriel going first up, Cashahallic following the live cover and Escuela wending her way into contention third over (but still sixth) through a half in a softened up :58.2.

On the backside, Uriel brushed up to take command with Cashahallic now second at the third station in 1:26.3.

Meanwhile, Escuela was charging into contention and swinging widest of all turning for home with more (:28.1) than enough to score the repeat win.

After the race, driver Ed Hensley said, “Last week, it was the ‘Rousey’ punch that did it. This week, it was the ‘Holly Holm kick’ that got us to the winner’s circle.

(Note: It was Holm that knocked out Rousey over the weekend in their UFC Championship fight).

“She’s really good now so we enjoy the times when she’s good because it’s not always this way in this business. We have ups and downs and we’re just thankful for these times!”

Owned by the Hensleys—Ed and Ashleigh—Escuela earned her 10th win of the year in 31 starts to send her seasonal bounty to $79,770 and $157,226 lifetime.

She paid $7.00 to win as the second choice in the betting.

Post time for the Tuesday opener is 7:30 p.m. with a $30,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool beginning in the first race.