by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Nillabomb, one of the most recognizable fan favorite mares in Florida in recent years because of her striking roan color, came out with wholesale equipment changes but the same old fighting spirit to capture her 2012 debut on Monday (Jan. 2) at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. It was the first card of the New Year at the South Florida venue.

Skip Smith photo

Miss Sparta (#7-Joe Pavia, Jr.) just caught Best Around (#5-Jason Dillander) in a $6,100 mares conditioned event on Monday.

Trainer Eric Beach elected to let her hopples out an inch to 60 inches, take off her right side murphy blind, and change the 7-year-old daughter of Admirals Galley-Be A Little Lady from a blind to can’t-see-back bridle.

Wally Hennessey, one of 31 drivers to occupy the race bike behind Nillabomb in her career, moved her to the lead just after the front quarter in :27.3 in the $5,300 conditioned test. In the backstretch after the :56.1 half, Nillabomb successfully dealt with the challenge of She’s A Pegase, in rein to Dan Clements, to the final turn in 1:24.3. At the top of the stretch, Nillabomb appeared to be headed but fought back in the final strides to hold off the pocket sitting Aries Angel, in rein to Rick Plano, and the second over JK Geronimo, partnered by Joe Pavia, Jr.

It was the 38th career win for Nillabomb and her next paycheck will push her lifetime earnings past the $400,000 mark for the ownership group of Trifecta 246 Corp. of Boca Raton, Fla.

In the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, Special Sweetheart made a quarter pole move to the front with Bruce Ranger in tow and went the rest of the way to score in 1:52.3. The 23-time career winner of more than $822,000, conditioned by Peter Pellegrino, has been one of Florida’s winningest performers in recent years for Susan and Ted Colby’s 4 For 3 Stable of Bronxville, N.Y. Runaway Tray sat a pocket trip with Joe Pavia, Jr. up and there was a show dead heat involving Artcam, driven by Fern Paquet, Jr., and Bryan’s Ideal, partnered by Dan Clements.

Pacing mare Miss Sparta made her Florida debut a winning one in a $6,100 mares sub-feature on the Monday evening card. The 5-year-old daughter of The Panderosa-Lady Genius tipped off cover to catch the favored pacesetter Best Around in a tight photo in 1:54 with trainer Joe Pavia, Jr. in the bike. Cruisin In Pink closed next best for third with Rick Plano in the bike.

It was the first start for Miss Sparta since a $10,000 claim at Harrah’s Chester on Dec. 13 for Doris and Kevin Hurley’s Pint Size Stable of Boca Raton, Fla.

Post time is 7:15 p.m. (EST) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital of Harness Racing. Free race night live streaming, nightly handicapping selections by John Berry, and replays are in the ‘racing’ tab at www.theislepompanopark.com along with the full season racing schedule through July.