If it is Tuesday then it must be Esmeralda Semalu Night at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, as the top mare of the 2009 season made it three straight wins in the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.
The fifth race feature pace started off with Golden Falcon N and driver David Ingraham speeding to the early lead by the opening quarter mile in :26.4, with Catalina Morgan (Denis St Pierre) sitting on their back.
Heading towards the half-mile pole, Chapsboots N Spurs (Wally Hennessey) came first-over to challenge in :56.2, with Crystal Chris (Bruce Ranger) following the outside flow second-over. Meanwhile, the 6/5 race favourite, Esmeralda Semalu and trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr. were stalking the leaders ten lengths back in last place.
As the field reached the three-quarter mile marker in 1:24.3, Pavia and Esmeralda Semalu used the same tactics as last week, sweeping three-wide on the final turn and moving up to second place by the top of the stretch. It was all a blur for the rest of the field as Esmeralda Semalu kicked in a :27.3 last quarter mile to pull away from the field and win by two and three-quarter lengths.
Shytown Lightning (Andy Santeramo) was second with Golden Falcon N third.
Owned by the BJR Stables of Boca Raton and the AGC Stables of Highland Beach, Esmeralda Semalu paid $4.40 to win. She is a five-year-old mare by Electric Stena.
(Pompano Park)