Escuela, looking to extend her current winning streak of three in Pompano Park's Open Handicap Trot, did just that on Monday night as the five-year-old daughter of ABC Garland made it a 'grand slam' with a 1:55 clocking on a 'coolish' evening in south Florida.

With co-owner Ed Hensley in the bike for trainer and co-owner Ashleigh Hensley, Escuela used her now patented late knockout punch to pin a defeat measuring 1-3/4 lengths over the invader and 6-5 favourite, Auspicious Hanover (Kevin Wallis), with the pacesetting Proud Moment (Wally Hennessey) third.

Beginning from the outside post in her octet, Escuela lolly-gagged well back in the field--9 1/2 lengths away--with only one breaker beaten early on before edging to the outside and catching live cover after Proud Moment clipped off fractions of :27.4 and :56.1. On the backside, three-eighths out, the outer flow began to develop with Ill Tell You What going uncovered and joining Shes All In about a length-and-a-half back of the leader.

Meanwhile, Escuela had wended her way into fourth on the outside and getting ready to throw that knockout punch once they straightened away after three-quarters in 1:25.1. Collaring the leaders in mid-stretch, Escuela burst to the fore and easily held off Auspicious Hanover to complete her aforementioned grand slam.

"I'll make it easy for you this week,” said driver Hensley. “Just Xerox a copy of what you wrote last week. Honestly, she's just feeling very good right now and she just has an amazing kick at the end of her miles. It was bit chillier tonight but we all had to deal with that, so it turned out to be no factor."

In winning for the 12th time this year, Escuela pushed her 2015 bounty to $90,770 and $168,226 lifetime. She paid $5.60 to win.

Also on Monday night, late closer action began with two divisions of the Success Cameo for claiming fillies and mares and a pair of divisions of the Sea Eagle for pacing horses and geldings.

Success Cameo first leg winners were Sweet Bet and Dakota Law while Scotty Mach N and Geared To Win won their respective divisions of the Sea Eagle.

Sweet Bet held on for dear life at the end of her mile to hold off the late charging Lily Rei and Last Romance by a neck in 1:55.3.

Driven by Matt Romano for owner-trainer Dale Gilmour, Sweet Bet posted hot fractions of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:24.4 before the chilly wind took hold during the :30.4 finale.

As driver Romano said, "A win is a win, no matter whether the final quarter is :27 or :32!"

The seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight won for the fourth time this semester and 28th lifetime to send her career bounty over the $200,000 plateau--$202,173 to be exact. She paid $3.00 to win.

Dakota Law, handled by Ed Hensley for owner Denise Maier and trainer Tim Maier, garnered the lead after the :28.1 opener and went on to post panels of :57 and 1:26 before holding off Mayabelle (Mike Micallef) by a nose in 1:55.4.

Dakota Law, a four-year-old daughter of Hot Pans, won for the sixth time this season--12th win lifetime--to send her 2015 earnings to $14,826. She paid $4.60.

The Sea Eagle, named for the winner of the very first pari-mutuel race at Pompano Park in 1964, saw Scotty Mach N and Geared To Win come home victorious in their respective divisions.

Scotty Mach N used different tactics this night to score a handy win for Kevin Wallis--the margin 1-3/4 lengths over the late charging On The Green (Wally Hennessey) with My Buddy Mason (Dave Ingraham) third.

Scotty Mach N, a 10-year-old gelded son of Mach Three trained by Gary McDonald for The Three Gees Stable, rocketed out of the gate from the advantageous five post and carded fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.4 before reporting home in :30.1 to score his sixth win this year and 35th lifetime.

His lifetime bounty now stands at $361,641 to go along with a lifetime mark of 1:49.4 two seasons ago. He paid $6.00 to win.

Geared To Win, under the guidance of Andy Santeramo, pulled off a 13-1 upset in his Sea Eagle division, gliding, first, by the pacesetting Walking Tall (Mike Micallef) turning for home and, then, easily holding off the late surging Goldstar Raider (John MacDonald) to score by 1-1/2 lengths for owner-trainer Mario Dessureault in a season's best 1:54. Goldstar Raider did finish second with Walking Tall next in line.

Geared To Win, a four-year-old altered son of Geartogear, won for the third time this year to send his 2015 earnings to $16,092.

Late Closer action continues on Tuesday night with the opening divisions of The Optimist for pacers and The Interloper for trotters.

Also Precocious Beauty, the classy four-year-old daughter of Art Major, with $828,374 in earnings, makes her Pompano Park debut in the $11,000 Open for mares.

(Pompano Park)