by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The performance by pacing mare Best Around topped all others on the Monday evening (Jan. 16) card at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and it turned out to be the second fastest mile of the 2011-12 meet to date.

Skip Smith photo

Runaway Tray (#8-Joe Pavia, Jr.) rallied on the inside to catch I’m Just Special in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.

In the first race of the program, the 6-year-old daughter of Cambest-Rondeau Hanover was sent through fractions of :26.4, :55 and 1:22.4 leading up to the 1:50.3 clocking over six rivals in the $6,100 mares conditioned event. It was a life’s mark for Best Around in her first start after a claim by Ft. Lauderdale owner Joel Benson and in the care of trainer Paul Holzman.

George Napolitano, Jr. was in the bike for the overpowering victory over Bryan’s Ideal (in rein to Dan Clements) and Blind To See (partnered by Ed Hensley).

Best Around, a winner last year in Pompano’s Mares Open class, could soon be heading up to the top class again. Her lifetime earnings now stand at $95,344.

The clocking was the second fastest of the entire meet, only one tick behind the 1:50.2 clocking turned in by another member of the Paul Holzman barn, older gelding Brave Call, on Jan. 7.

Runaway Tray trips out in Mares Open Handicap

Trainer Alex Kavoleff made a quick impact upon his return to a Pompano winter base just over a month ago and his stable leader, pacing mare Runaway Tray, came through again in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on the Jan. 16 program.

Ordered to start on the outside in the field of eight of the top mares in training at the meet in South Florida, Runaway Tray cleared the lead in :28 and was content to follow the favored I’m Just Special and driver George Napolitano, Jr. through the middle stages of :56.3 and 1:25 as that rival had to dispose of the first over challenge of C R Hope with Ricky Macomber, Jr. in the bike.

Late in the stretch the pylon lane opened and Joe Pavia, Jr. found Runaway Tray had one more brush remaining to stop the clock in 1:53.1 by close to a quarter of a length over I’m Just Special. Nillabomb, driven by Mike Micallef, surpassed a milestone of $400,000 in lifetime earnings by closing well for third.

Runaway Tray has now won three of five Pompano starts since her first start in Florida on Dec. 12. Her career bankroll improved to more than $205,000 for the Booff Stable of Pittston, Pa.

There were no winners in the Monday evening Pick-4 at Pompano, which was capped off by 11-1 longshot Paper Princess, driven by Bruce Ranger. The guaranteed pool will be $12,500 for the Pick-4 on the Tuesday (Jan. 17) program.