by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — With a well timed three wide brush in the backstretch deployed by driver Bruce Ranger, Bombilla Hanover returned to the racetrack for her 4-year-old season in triumphant fashion to highlight the Monday evening (May 7) program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Skip Smith photo

Bombilla Hanover made her return to racing a winning one in 1:54 on Monday.

She sat well back of a torrid opening half battle of 26.2 and :55 waged by fraction setters Looney Dune in rein to Richie Simard and Major Trap with Andy Santeramo in tow. They were joined going to the half by She’s A Pegase driven by Tom Sells as his bid to make the front failed.

That set the stage for Bombilla Hanover to burst on by going to the three-quarters in 1:23.2 and then coasting home with daylight to spare in 1:54. Looney Dune dug in stoutly to hold second over Major Trap in the $8,500 Mares Open Pace.

It was the first start of Bombilla Hanover’s 4-year-old campaign. Last year on the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes trail when racing from the care of Bill Fahy and later in Florida from the barn of co-owner Peter Blood, Bombilla Hanover amassed almost $64,000 in season’s earnings.

Her greatest accomplishment was a stunning 1:51.4 tour of the Pompano oval last November nearing the end of her 3-year-old campaign which bested the previous category track record of 1:52.1 established by Special Sweetheart two years earlier.

Lew Whitaker co-owns the daughter of The Panderosa from the Matt’s Scooter mare Bet Me Hanover. Peter Blood has reassumed training duties on Bombilla Hanover while she’s in Florida.

More performers in the 2012 Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association program continue to make their way back to the track. On the Monday evening program, Quail overcame post eight to find room on the pylons late to score in 1:57 over older mares in a non-winners of three event.

The 3-year-old daughter of Six Of Diamonds-Armbro Robin has never missed the top three in her entire career, and this was the second straight win of her 2012 campaign. Trainer Kim Sears shares ownership of the promising miss with Jay Sears.