More than 80 per cent of her wins in 2011 have been in South Florida so it was no surprise that Im Just Special would go off as the 3-5 prevailing public choice in Monday’s $12,000 feature at Pompano Park
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With Bruce Ranger making a key decision in the opening eighth of the mile to bypass a possible inside racing spot back in the pack, Im Just Special would stay out on the first turn and clear the lead just past the quarter in :26.4. She'd proceed to widen her advantage the rest of the way in :55 and 1:23.1 and as the wire was arriving in 1:52.3.
From 11 wins in 25 trips this year, nine of her first-prize tallies have been at Pompano dating to January 4. Princessofdarkness was shuffled to last and closed next best for second in rein to Dan Clements with Keep On Flirtin and Ed Hensley up for third.
After a campaign in the Ontario Sires Stakes and the first half of her five-year-old season, Peter Pellegrino took over training duties from Tom Artandi on Im Just Special in July of 2010. The six-year-old daughter of Camluck-Ladys Special Girl has banked over $707,000 for owners Susan and Ted Colby of Bronxville, NY.
(Pompano Park)