by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — If the first top class pacing mares feature of the new campaign is any indication, it’s going to be a vintage year for this class of competition in the 2010-11 season at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Martha Brown nosed out Princess Michi on the wire.

A field of eight mares was assembled to contest the $12,000 top purse on Saturday night (Oct. 23) in South Florida. When the work of the photo finish camera was complete the flare of a nose was all that separated the winner Martha Brown with Bruce Ranger in tow over the runner-up Princess Michi and driver Mike Micallef.

“We’d claimed her at Indiana Downs but left her to race there in a different stable, so really this was her first start for us tonight,” said trainer Rod Lorenzo of the Lorenzo Stable. “That was a great effort for Martha Brown to win tonight but I’m not sure if she’s quite good enough to stay in the top class for the whole season here. In time, she may settle into the class just below this, that’s my gut feeling,” he added of the 6-year-old daughter of Cam’s Card Shark-Amber Rock. Ownership is shared by trainer Michile Lorenzo with William Hancock, Jr.

Until the very late strides it looked like a mild upset in the making as Samantha Q, driven by Doug Brown, was leading after a quarter pole move to the front and posting middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.4. Samantha Q put away the first over challenge of Lucy Lucy and driver Bob Hoffman.

Princess Michi enjoyed a ground saving trip and was just caught on the money by Martha Brown who rolled out off cover for the narrow score in 1:53.4. It was her fifth win in 24 trips this year. Samantha Q saved the show position.

The other razor sharp winner from the Lorenzo barn in 1:53.4 on Saturday night was Diamond Howard in a $5,400 fourth leg division of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Sunshine State Stakes.

The 3-year-old Mannart Howard-Amethyst gelding was under wraps again in a dominant effort in the state-bred program, his fourth consecutive win since the program resumed this month. Stablemate Red Hot Howard (Walter Ross, Jr.) followed second under the wire with Ace Le Ru (Mike Micallef) well back in third.

Trainer Michile Lorenzo shares ownership of Diamond Howard with Souren Hovsepian.

Racing resumes in the coming week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at the Winter Capital of Harness Racing with post time at 7:05 p.m. (EDT). Tuesday evening programs are added to the schedule in the December through April segment.