Pompano Beach, FL…January 6, 2016…The "swan song" for Precocious Beauty, now on her way into a new career as a broodmare, was spoiled on Wednesday night at Pompano Park in the $12,000 Open Handicap for the harness racing mares when Safe From Terror, driven by Matt Romano, slipped through along the pylons a sixteenth out to score a victory measuring three-parts-of-a-length over Precocious Beauty, with Doug McNair in the bike.
Just A Bee and Mike Micallef teamed up from the outside nine post to garner show honors while Wild Wanda and Arodasi picked up the final two awards in the field of nine.
As the wings folded, Safe From Terror was away very alertly from post two with Precocious Beauty (post four) on the engine, as well, with Just A Bee surging up from the outside to secure a close up spot in third ahead of Wild Wanda and Arodasi.
Around the opening turn, Precocious Beauty assumed command and took her rivals through a hot opening panel of :26.4.
With no challenges developing during the second quarter, Precocious Beauty was able to get a :29.3 breather to reach the half in :56.2.
Right at that half-way station, Wild Wanda was on the move and sprinting seriously on the backside, denting an official :26.4 third panel-hers being :26.2-and moved within a length of Precocious Beauty at the third station in 1:23.1 with Safe From Terror sitting chilly along the pylons turning for home.
In the lane, Precocious Beauty drifted out ever so slightly allowing Safe From Terror the room to roam along the inside to secure the win in 1:51.3.
After the event, driver Matt Romano said, "Lulu's (trainer Luanna Besson) mare has been very good the last couple of starts, especially the last one where she paced home in :27.3.
"Tonight, she proved her mettle and, with a picture perfect journey, was able to get the job done. Ya know, she's won almost a half million (dollars) so you know that she's got talent."
Owned by Winchester Baye Acres, Safe From Terror, a four year-old daughter of Western Terror, won for the 13th time in 35 lifetime starts to send her career bounty to $489,622.
Overlooked at 15 to 1 on the tote-board, Safe From Terror paid a handsome $32.00 mutuel to her $2 backers.
Precocious Beauty, meanwhile, was certainly not disgraced by her performance this night and closes out her brilliant racing career with earnings of $838,004 to go along with her mark of 1:50.1.
In the $9,500 supporting feature for mares, Velocity Vespa, driven by Kevin Wallis for trainer Chris Oakes and owner Susan Oakes, scored a gate-to-wire win in a lifetime best 1:50.4, cutting panels of :26.1, :55.1 and 1:23 in the process.
This six year-old daughter of I Scoot Hanover, pinned a 4¾ length defeat on Art Frenzy (Aaron Byron) with Sandysgoldenhour (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) third, 6¾ lengths away. Jinxy's Delight finished fourth while De Vins Girl picked up the nickel.
Velocity Vespa now sports a 23-12-12 scorecard in 98 lifetime starts good for $172,987.
As the 3 to 5 choice, Velocity Vespa returned $3.20 to win.
Racing continues on Saturday night with a Super Hi-5 carryover of $14,651.17 awaiting.
Post time is 7:30 p.m.
NOMINATIONS DUE FOR POMPANO LATE CLOSERS
With the Late Closer season continuing at Pompano Park, a reminder that the following nominations are due by January 15, 2016 as outlined below:
Event #1. “The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park” Open Pacing Series
Nominating Fee: $1,000 due January 15, 2016
First Leg………Sunday, February 14, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Second Leg….Sunday, February 21, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Third Leg……..Sunday, February 28, 2016….Purse: $12.500G
FINAL…………..Saturday, March 5, 2016………Purse: $75,000A
Estimated Final Purse: $100,000
Note: To be eligible to the Event Final, horses must start in at least two legs.
(Winners over $200,000 in 2015 NOT ELIGIBLE)
Event #2. “The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park Open” Trotting Series
Nominating Fee: $1,000 due January 15, 2016
First Leg……….Monday, February 15, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Second Leg….Monday, February 22, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Third Leg……..Monday, February 29, 2016.…Purse: $12,500G
FINAL…………..Saturday, March 5, 2016………..Purse: $60,000A
Estimated Final Purse: $80,000
Note: To be eligible to the Event Final, horses must start in at least two legs.
(Winners over $200,000 in 2015 NOT ELIGIBLE)
Event #3. “The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park” Fillies and Mares Open Pacing Series
Nomination Fee: $1,000 due January 15, 2016
First Leg………Saturday, February 13, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Second Leg…Saturday, February 20, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
Third Leg…….Saturday, February 27, 2016….Purse: $12,500G
FINAL…………..Saturday, March 5, 2016…………Purse: $60,000A
Estimated Final Purse: $80,000
Note: To be eligible to the Event Final, horses must start in at least two legs.
(Winners over $200,000 in 2015 NOT ELIGIBLE)
Event #4. “The Tweedle Dum” Trot
Nomination Fee: $500 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $20,000)
First Leg……….Tuesday, February 16, 2016…..Purse: $10,000G
Second Leg….Tuesday, February 23, 2016…..Purse: $10,000G
FINAL……………Tuesday, March 1, 2016………..Purse: $12,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $20,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $20,000
(Any horse claimed from series does not receive points earned by different connections)
Event #5. “The Baron Lancer” Pace
Nomination Fee: $500 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $20,000)
First Leg…………Sunday, February 21, 2016….Purse: $10,000G
Second Leg……Sunday, February 28, 2016….Purse: $10,000G
FINAL…………….Saturday, March 5, 2016……….Purse: $12,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $20,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $20,000
(Any horse claimed from series does not receive points earned by different connections)
Event #9. “The Chucaro Ahijuna” Trot
Nomination Fee: $300 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $10,000)
First Leg…………Wednesday, January 27, 2016…..Purse: $7,000G
Second Leg……Wednesday, February 3, 2016……Purse: $7,000G
FINAL……………..Wednesday, February 10, 2016…Purse: $9,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $15,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $10,000
(Any horse claimed from series does not receive points earned by different connections)
Event #11. “The Central Park West” Pace
Nomination Fee: $250 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $8,000)
First Leg……………Saturday, January 30, 2016……Purse: $6,500G
Second Leg………Saturday, February 6, 2016……Purse: $6,500G
FINAL………………..Saturday, February 13, 2016…Purse: $8,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $14,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $8,000
(Any horse claimed from the series does not receive points earned by different connections)
Event #12. “The Midnite Hardy” Pace
Nomination Fee: $250 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $8,000)
First Leg…………..Monday, February 1, 2016……Purse $6,500G
Second Leg……..Monday, February 8, 2016……Purse $6,500G
FINAL……………….Monday, February 15, 2016…Purse $8,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $14,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $8,000
(Any horse claimed from the series does not receive points earned by different connections)
Event #15. “The Battleground” Trot
Nomination Fee: $200 due January 15, 2016 (Claiming $6,000)
First Leg…………Wednesday, February 17, 2016….Purse $5,500G
Second Leg…….Wednesday, February 24, 2016…Purse $5,500G
FINAL……………..Wednesday, March 2, 2016……….Purse $7,500A
Estimated Final Purse: $12,000
Note: Base claiming price for both legs and final is $6,000
(Any horse claimed from the series does not receive points earned by different connections)
All payments should be made payable to PPI, Inc. and sent to:
Greg DeFrank, Racing Secretary
Racing Office, Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
1800 SW Third Street
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
by John Berry for Pompano Park