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 pacing mares.
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.
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. Just A Bee and Mike Micallef garnered show honours while Wild Wanda and Arodasi picked up the final two awards in the field of nine.
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 $866,920 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 4-3/4 length defeat on Art Frenzy (Aaron Byron) with Sandysgoldenhour (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) third, 6-3/4 lengths away. Jinxys 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.
(with files from Pompano Park)