A win and a tight runner-up finish earned by mares starting for Ed Hensley highlighted the Monday evening action in Florida at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The indications were strong in the very first race of the night that Hensley's mares had come to play at the top of their game. In the $6,100 purse conditioned test, Lickcreek Jazzy stalked the pace from mid-pack into the stretch and came away with a 1:52.2 life's mark. The 29-time career winner of over $362,000 is a seven-year-old mare by Hi Ho Silverheels out of Peace Runner, and in this conquest she defeated Dinah Ross, in rein to Joe Pavia Jr., and the pace-making favourite, Bombilla Hanover, with Bruce Ranger in the bike.
Hensley, a former meet driving champion at Tioga Downs, Fraser Downs, and Cal-Expo, has established a winter home base at Boynton Beach, Florida and he also sent Keep On Flirtin into battle on Monday evening in South Florida. The $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace saw favoured entry mates Im Just Special, with Bruce Ranger up, and Special Sweetheart, partnered by Jason Dillander, engage in a pitched battle through the middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.3. Just like last week, Hensley's Keep On Flirtin brought the lead into the stretch only to be caught at the tote board by Runaway Tray, again driven to a two-move victory by Joe Pavia Jr.
Runaway Tray, a five-year-old mare by Blissful Hall out of Traker Dream, was following up her life's mark of 1:51.4 taken last week with this tally of 1:52.3. She's won both of her Florida starts for the Booff Stable of Pittston, Pennsylvania and trainer Alex Kavoleff has sent out winners with half of his first eight starters since shipping back to The Sunshine State.
The third mare sent into action by Hensley on Monday evening, Blind To See, was tested in a first over trip and finished fourth by less than two lengths to race winning filly Southwind Trini in the $5,300 purse conditioned event.
Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. In the upcoming holiday season there is no live harness racing from December 22 through December 26.
(With files from Pompano Park)