by Frank Salive, publicity director, Isle Pompano Park
Pompano Beach, FL — A humid evening with the temperature hovering in the upper 70s set the stage for a remarkable track record by 3-year-old pacing filly Bombilla Hanover in the very first race of the Monday evening (Nov. 14) program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
A talented group of fillies and mares was assembled for the conditioned event for a $5,000 purse. First to the front at the quarter in :27.4 was driver David Ingraham with Angela, making her first start since capturing the $64,000 Florida Breeders championship nine days ago.
As the field straightened out past that opening marker, Mike Micallef had Bombilla Hanover on the move to take over. The daughter of The Panderosa-Bet Me Hanover wasted no time to the half in :55.2 and the final turn in 1:23.1 and the pursuit of a track record performance was within her grasp.
The wire arrived for the graduate of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:51.4, eclipsing the former track record performance of Special Sweetheart (2009, 1:52.1). Angela stoutly held second and Blind To See with Dan Clements in the bike was third.
After a Summer campaign based at The Meadows in the Bill Fahy barn, trainer Peter Blood resumed care of the filly for the track record outing and he shares ownership of Bombilla Hanover with Rick Berks and Lew Whitaker. She increased her season’s earnings to $61,922 and her career bankroll to just under $80,000.
The video replay of the track record performance is found at www.theislepompanopark.com in the ‘racing’ tab and in ‘replay video’ for Nov. 14, race 1.
Also on the Monday evening card, the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace feature turned to the gate. Princessofdarkness was sent down the road in 1:52.1 to equal her life’s mark with Wally Hennessey in the bike, over Bryan’s Ideal driven by Dan Clements and Keep On Flirtin with Ed Hensley on board.
The winner is a 4-year-old daughter of The Panderosa-Mattintosh trained by Jim Mattinson for owners Vicki Mattison and Leola and Gil Pochesi. Her season’s earnings improved to $53,800 with the win in the top weekly class for distaff pacing mares in South Florida.