by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The Metro Pacing Stakes, Canada’s richest annual race for 2-year-old pacers, had a major connection to the biggest longshot winner on the Monday evening (Jan. 23) card at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

The 6-year-old gelding Lucky Asset was overlooked to the tune of 47-1 as a field of ten claiming pacers battled it out in the fifth race. The Camluck-Lisa’s Acquisition brother to 2002 Metro champion Sir Luck was raced from just off the pace and persisted through the stretch to catch the pacesetting BJ’s Braveheart in rein to Mickey McNichol and hold off Ideally Magic partnered by Rick Plano.

Lucky Asset was hammered down for $52,000 in the 2005 Harrisburg Sale. In this event at Pompano he raced for a $4,600 purse and was offered for a claiming price of $6,000 as he stepped to a career speed mark of 1:52.4. Ed Hensley is training and driving the lifetime winner of $125,114 for owner Robert Weinstein of Bellmore, N.Y.

Special Sweetheart earns Mares Open win

With career earnings of more than $822,000, Special Sweetheart turned to the gate as the favorite in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Monday evening at Pompano. The 6-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Ladys Special Girl went off as the 3-5 public choice but was forced to withstand heavy pressure in the first quarter and final half to chalk up her 24th career win.

Skip Smith photo

Special Sweetheart overcame a two week interval between starts and returned to her position of dominance in the Mares Open Handicap Pace.

At the outset, Gaston Lareau fired longshot Miss Sparta to the top and finally gave way to Special Sweetheart, partnered by George Napolitano, Jr,. to the quarter in :26.4. Just before the halftime rating of :56.1 flashed up, Ed Hensley had Keep On Flirtin on the move on the outside to stage a backstretch duel to the final turn in 1:24.3.

Special Sweetheart drew clear late in the stretch to stop the clock in 1:53.2. Nillabomb rallied widest for Mike Micallef to nip Runaway Tray driven by Joe Pavia, Jr. for the place prize. Peter Pellegrino trains Special Sweetheart for the 4 For 3 Stable of Bronxville, N.Y.

Pellegrino and Napolitano would also team up to win with Jetta Baran in a life’s mark of 1:52.3. The 7-year-old daughter of Rambaran-Armbro Jetta was claimed for $7,200 after this start from the Baron Stable of Horsham, Pa., by Born To Run Stable and new trainer Frank Petrelli.

Big night for Pick-4 wager

Because of a carryover from last Saturday, Pompano offered a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool on Monday evening, up from the usual weeknight guarantee of $5,000 as part of the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program. The Jan. 23 Pick-4 at Pompano attracted more than $17,000 in wagers, and due to the upset win by Lucky Asset the Pick-4 returned $7,346.80.