by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Just A Bee, off at 2-5 on the tote board, took full advantage of the absence of arch-rival Godiva Seelster and took top honors in Pompano Park’s Open Handicap for Mares on Tuesday night (Nov. 3).

Skip Smith photo

Just A Bee dug in late to hold off Winbak Heavenly in Pompano Park’s feature for pacing mares.

The 7-year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood, again handled by trainer Mike Micallef, scored her 14th win of the season in 1:52.4, besting Winbak Heavenly, driven by Aaron Byron, by a neck. IM Gracie’s Wigwam, with Ed Hensley in the bike, finished third, 1-3/4 lengths away. Jets Are On finished fourth with Artful Impulse picking up the nickel in the classy field of six.

At the outset, there was a scramble for the early lead as Artful Impulse (Andy Santeramo), showing her usual early speed, and Winbak Heavenly, also on the bit leaving, battled around turn one forcing Just A Bee, also showing gate speed, into the third spot, but only briefly.

At the opening marker, timed in :27.2, Micallef tugged on the right line of Just A Bee and she surged to the front three-eighths into the mile.
After a :56.1 half, Just A Bee had a 1-1/4 advantage over Artful Impulse with Winbak Heavenly next and IM Gracie’s Wigwam brushing up strongly from fifth with an individually timed third panel of :27.3, reaching to within a head of Just A Bee at the third station in 1:24.4.

In the lane, Just A Bee repelled IM Gracie’s Wigwam, but in deep stretch had to contend with Winbak Heavenly, whose rally fell short by that aforementioned neck.

After the event, driver Micallef said, “There is no such a thing as a ‘gimme’ in racing; maybe in golf with a one foot putt, but not on a racetrack.

“My mare dug in and gave everything she had to preserve the win. She was game — but so were the others in there, as well.”

Owned by Anita Micallef, along with John Mc Goff and Greg Heath, Just A Bee pushed her lifetime bankroll to $267,821 — $118,155 of that this semester. Since being in the Micallef Stable off of a $12,000 claim last September, Just A Bee has 18 wins and $146,605 to go along with a mark of 1:50.3 established twice here at Pompano Park.

She paid $2.80 to win.

Though the 7-5 favorite Yakekty Hanover (Kevin Wallis) won the fourth race pentafecta event, no ticket had the 5-6-9-2-7 combination, resulting in an $8,001 carryover and a $25,000 guarantee for Sunday night’s pentafecta.

Also, Pompano Park now advances to a three night a week schedule, adding Mondays to its agenda beginning next week.

The Sunday-Monday-Tuesday schedule will include a $10,000 Pick-4 guarantee for the Sunday program and $5,000 guarantees for the Monday and Tuesday cards.

Post time will remain at 7:30 p.m.