by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — It could be considered an unusual and perhaps a rare milestone for 5-year-old pacing mare Nillabomb. Even her trainer, Eric Beach, was caught off guard when informed that she’s now had 25 different drivers in her career which now spans four seasons and 97 starts.

“Wow, it just never occurred to me it was that many drivers that she’s had,” Beach said when informed that the recent addition of Joshua Sutton to Nillabomb’s race bike made it an even 25 driving partners. “Thinking back though from the time she started out on the Michigan Fair Circuit we sure have piled up the miles together. I should know because my wife Kim and I have done all the trucking around of her ourselves. And trust me, it’s been thousands and thousands and thousands of miles.”

Lap Time Photo — Skip Smith

Nillabomb (#9, Joshua Sutton) just missed the win by a scant nose to stablemate Witch Trials (#3, Dan Clements).

Because of a Friday night concert, there was a live program moved forward to Thursday evening, Nov. 18, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. The featured event was the $12,000 mares handicap with Nillabomb ordered to start outside in the field of nine.

The daughter of Admirals Galley-Be A Little Lady competes for the ownership of Trifecta 246 Stable of Linden, Mich. The stable members are Gwen and Gerald Knapp, along with Kim Beach.

In this test, Nillabomb raced valiantly first over for the final five-eighths of the mile and her long first over grind fell just short by a nose in the photo finish to her stablemate Witch Trials in 1:55. Nillabomb won the event last week, and it was the second straight week that the pair of top mares from the Eric Beach barn swept the top two positions in this weekly class at the current meet in South Florida.

The roan coloring of Nillabomb is reminiscent of another Michigan-bred sired by Admirals Galley that earned continent-wide notoriety, Admiral’s Express. Bred by Nickie Benson of Michigan, Nillabomb currently stands at $329,293 in career earnings, a far cry from the $1.76 million plateau achieved by Admiral’s Express. Nillabomb’s top earning year was 2007 when she debuted as a 2-year-old and piled up over $124,000 on the Michigan Fair circuit. 2010 is proving to be her best year to date in the older ranks as she’s banked over $75,000.

“She won’t likely ever be as famous as Admiral’s Express but I couldn’t be any prouder of her,” Eric Beach offers. “She’s iron tough and very versatile, just the complete package that any trainer could want. And wow with this news she’s had 25 drivers and competed or qualified at 15 different tracks too, I feel really fortunate to have had her in my barn for her whole career. I don’t think you even hear of many cars or trucks that have 25 different drivers in their lifespan. I don’t think many Thoroughbred horses would have had 25 different jockeys in their careers either. It must be rare for harness racing too and I didn’t even realize she’d had so many different drivers. In any case, she never shies from doing her work and as long as she’s up to it, we look forward to doing the miles with her in 2011 and the years ahead too.”

Nillabomb’s roster of 25 drivers to date:
1. Eric Beach; 2. Joshua Sutton; 3. Tom Sells; 4. Mike Micallef; 5. Catello Manzi; 6. Greg Merton; 7. Eric Goodell; 8. Stephane Bouchard; 9. Anthony Napolitano; 10. Jeff Gregory; 11. Daniel Dube; 12. Kevin Sizer; 13. Bruce Ranger; 14. Wally Hennessey; 15. Ricky Macomber, Jr.; 16. Walter Ross, Jr.; 17. Ray Vizzi; 18. Richard Simard; 19. Danny Johnson; 20. Eric Carlson; 21. Brad Kramer; 22. Rick Zeron; 23. Mark MacQuarie; 24. Paul MacDonnell; 25. Jason Brewer.

Nillabomb’s roster of 15 tracks raced or qualified at:
1. Pompano Park; 2. Tioga Downs; 3. Yonkers; 4. Pocono Downs; 5. Northville Downs; 6. Saratoga; 7. Hazel Park; 8. Mohawk; 9. Windsor; 10. Western Fair; 11. Midland; 12. Holland; 13. Big Rapids; 14. Fowlerville; 15. Jackson.