They raced a mile to finish almost inseparable in the photo finish of the $15,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on the April 16 program at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park

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Under a steady light drizzle the first quarter of the weekly top distaff contest in South Florida was hotly disputed as Wild Ride Hanover and Gaston Lareau parked out Major Trap, in rein to David Ingraham, in :27.1. Major Trap briefly cleared the lead only to have Flip For Love, with Wally Hennessey in the bike, moving up to take over early in the second quarter.

Flip For Love would never get the luxury of a breather. Race favourite Im Just Special, with Kevin Wallis in tow, battled early for the lead but had to back off to fifth position. At the quarter though, Im Just Special was on the move and up to challenge Flip For Love at the half in :54.4 and to the final turn in 1:23.2. In the stretch, Flip For Love and Im Just Special battled all the way to end. In the photo it appeared the margin of victory for Flip For Love was a scant matter of inches. Wild Ride Hanover followed well back for third.

Flip For Love thus recorded her sixth win in 14 trips this year for season's earnings of almost $47,000. Dan Hennessey trains the five-year-old Riverboat King-Triple Flip mare for Gary Greenhouse, Harvey Friedman and Ron Rubenstein of New York. Earlier this meet it was this mare that carried driver Wally Hennessey to his milestone career win 7,500.

Wallis Milestone Imminent

53-year-old Kevin Wallis led all drivers on Friday night in South Florida by bringing home three winners, which brings his lifetime win total in the bike to 8,998.

His winners included Cape Cove Daisy in the $7,500 Mares Open-3 Pace (1:54.3), Nonuknlady in the $6,000 purse Mares Open-4 Pace (1:55.2), and three-year-old Hurricane Howard in 1:56.3.

Wallis stands a great chance to reach the 9,000 career wins plateau on the Saturday, April 17 program at 7:05 p.m. since he is scheduled for duty in nine out of 10 races.

(Pompano Park)