Martha Brown will be an interesting case study in classification to watch as the 2010-2011 meet unfolds at The Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park. Her connections still are convinced she’ll be a top class mainstay

even though she’s won two of three starts to date in South Florida.

“We’re really thankful to be getting it while the getting is good,” said trainer Rod Lorenzo of the Lorenzo Stable after Martha Brown bested the field in the top mares weekly class in a $12,000 purse test on Friday night. “Last week she got roughed up and nothing worked out for her trip and she was sixth. In the months ahead I won’t be surprised at all if we have to drop her a class or even back into an optional claiming class. Based on experience, I think this class will get a whole lot tougher in a matter of weeks when Joe Pavia Jr. and George Napolitano Jr. get here,” Lorenzo adds.

Trainer Eric Beach suited up to drive Nillabomb and she did all the front end road work in :27.2, :57, and 1:25.3. Martha Brown, a six-year-old Cams Card Shark-Amber Rock daughter, was kept in line third until the field straightened up to the three-quarter pole. Driver Bruce Ranger finally got Martha Brown past Nillabomb in the closing strides, and the pocket-sitter Princess Michi, with Mike Micallef in tow, held third.

Michile Lorenzo is the trainer of record and co-owns Martha Brown with William Hancock Jr. of Illinois. Last week’s upset in the winner in this class, Samantha Q, was again spotted second over by driver Doug Brown but could only muster a fourth place finish.

Trainer Melanie Laurent celebrated her first career win on the November 5 program. Blazing Best, a three-year-old filly by N Aboriginal-Mystics Best, strolled away to a front end win in 2:00.1 for the Inge and Frank Smith Stable of Deerfield Beach, Florida with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike. Laurent, 39, was born in Frankfurt, Florida and is now a resident of Pompano Beach.

(Pompano Park)