It's been an eventful eight months in Florida for Bombilla Hanover. The four-year-old pacing mare and her groom, Sue Blood, were honoured in a trackside ceremony on Saturday evening, June 16 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park with the Horse And Groom Of The Month Awards for May from the Florida chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

"She's definitely the real deal, she has pedigree, class, speed and great manners," groom Sue Blood explained to John Berry in a live TV trackside interview. "She's a true professional and a pleasure to be around."

Last month at Pompano, Bombilla Hanover returned to racing for her four-year-old campaign. She won three out of four starts to quickly run her 2012 earnings to almost $18,000 and her lifetime bankroll to almost $100,000. Last November shortly after returning to her Florida winter base after campaigning in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, Bombilla Hanover set the three-year-old filly pace track record in 1:51.4.

"She overcame some stomach problems and was freshened up in the five months off we gave her. I had no problem with the fact that she had to return to racing in Pompano's top class for mares right off the bat," trainer and co-owner Peter Blood said. "As a two-year-old I thought she'd be one of the top three fillies I've had in my barn during my career, and I've had three fillies that were Breeders Crown starters, but she fell a bit short of that. Maybe she'll turn out to be a great older mare for us."

Ownership shares of the daughter of The Panderosa-Bet Me Hanover are also held by Floridians Rick Berks and Lewis Whitaker.

"Her favourite treat like many horses is carrots," added Blood. "But, I have to buy them for her in 25 pound bags. But I have to make sure to cut them into pieces or she'd eat five pounds of carrots a day."

The top event of the Saturday evening, June 16 program in South Florida was the $8,500 purse Isle Mile Open Handicap Pace. Bruce Ranger guided Neptune Blue Chip through fractions of :27.1, :56.1, and 1:24.2 en route to a comfortable 1:52.1 victory over the pocket-sitting Bolero Topgun, driven by Andy Santeramo. Northern Companion tried his customary first over brush in the final half and settled for third for driver Robert Hoffman.

Jim McDonald trains Neptune Blue Chip, a four-year-old American Ideal-Ms Pro Steinam gelding, for Ciro Gentile of Boca Raton, Florida and Twenty Four Carrot Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

In the weekly trotting event for the Florida Amateur Driving Club, Leon Cable executed a 32-1 upset in front end fashion with Whiteland Will in 2:01.1. Cable also owns and trains the 13-year-old Garland Lobell-Windswept Pleasure gelding, who racked up his 40th career win.

When racing resumes at Pompano on Wednesday, June 20, the season begins for the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association. The three-year-old fillies on both gaits will be turning to the gate to kick off The Sunshine State Stakes for purses of just over $6,000.

(Pompano Park)