It was a race with a few anxious moments for the winner but 10-year-old veteran trotting mare Cast British in rein to Jamie Rucker survived an inquiry and won the Sweetheart Annual Ladies Drivers' Race on Saturday, February 13 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park

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"My fiancee, Ricky Macomber Jr. usually drives her and he said to be on guard because she can be a little fussy," Rucker said to the Isle's John Berry in the live post-race TV interview. "I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention when she made that brief break in the backstretch. I was lucky she quickly came back to the trot and her back class showed since she was fine the rest of the way."

Cast British, by British Sterling-Sacrify, owned and trained by Dick Macomber of Ft. Lauderdale, had been exclusively a hard closer when driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. this meet. In the Sweetheart event however, Rucker went right down the road in :28.4, :59, 1:28.1 and 1:59.1 to capture the 16th driving win of her career. Jims Little Red, with Miriam Toland, followed second under the wire with Southern Beauty, in rein to Brooke Nickells, closing from last in the field of eight starters for third.

The $4,000 claiming trotters usually race for a $3,500 purse but for this event that was upped to a $6,000 pot. The other five drivers in the field included Luanna Beeson, Diane Hellen, Gro Formia, Anne Schlictig, and Kelly Case.

Meet's Top Trotting Mile 'The Real McCoy'

The Feburary 13 program in South Florida featured the fastest trotting mile of the entire 2009-2010 campaign as McCoy was a solid 1:54.3 winner in rein to George Napolitano Jr. It was also a life's mark for the six-year-old Yankee McCoy-Celebrity Connie gelding trained by Dan Hennessey for John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, Florida.

"That was quite a mile and I don't exactly know where it came from," Dan Hennessey said in the winner's circle after the $13,000 Open Handicap Trot. "It's really impressive because it's a cooler night here with the temperature dropping into the 40's [8 C]. I guess it's just proof that [driver] George Napolitano Jr. gets along really well with this horse."

Dan Hennessey's Hall Of Fame driving brother, Wally, was given his choice of the two starters from Dan's barn in the event and chose Colies. That pair cut the first fraction of :27.4 but surrendered the lead to McCoy, who sailed home the rest of the way through the middle stages of :57 and 1:25.1. Andover America, in rein to Bruce Ranger, persisted from the assigned outside post in the field of eight starters to hold second in the place photograph over a hard charging NF Soaring, with Brooke Nickells.

The $13,000 Open Handicap Pace was one of several cliffhangers on the 16-race doubleheader agenda. The decision went to Four Starz Bling, with Wally Hennessey in tow, in 1:51.2 as they made a first over move to the lead in third quarter to overtake Vapor In The Wind, with Ricky Macomber Jr. Daley Deposit Only, with Dan Daley up, took the first lead and withstood being shuffled back in the middle stages, and their late bid for top prize narrowly missed. McRyan Michael, with Joe Pavia Jr., took a ground saving trip and brushed up for third.

Four Starz Bling thus earned his first win of 2010. The Blissful Hall-Carrietowne eight-year-old gelding is trained by Ray Vizzi for New Jenneration Stable of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This win pushed his career earnings to more than $343,000.

Racing resumes on Monday evening, February 15 at 7:05 EST at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.

(Pompano Park)