Diane Hellen’s Fiesta Camcun, flawlessly handled by Stephane Lareau, pulled off a major upset in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Monday night at Pompano Park while Bombilla Hanover put in a startling 1:51 performance in the secondary feature for the distaffers.
Fiesta Camcun, a seven-year-old daughter of Camotion, stalked 1-to-5 favourite Gold Star Gidget, driven by Ricky Macomber through panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.3 before leaving the pocket turning for home and just getting up in the final stride to win by a scant nostril over the pacesetter. Kaylas Dream and Matt Romano were third.
“I figured that Macomber’s mare would try the same thing as last week so I knew that, with my mare’s gate speed, she could keep right up close to her tail,” said driver Stephane Lareau. “She had that great draft cover through that quick third quarter and I really thought I had a chance to get there. I tried to stay as patient as I could and it paid off. It kind of makes up for last week when we lost by a nose.”
“He (caretaker Jim Hogan) is one of the most dedicated caretakers in this business,” said trainer/co-owner Diane Hellen. “He takes his trade very seriously and is as professional as they get. His talent is a big reason for the mare’s success.”
The win was the third of the year in eight starts for Fiesta Camcun sending her 2013 bounty to $13,725. She’s banked $162,662 lifetime.
Bombilla Hanover kicked off the Monday night festivities with that eye-popping 1:51 performance for Bruce Ranger.
The five year-old daughter of The Panderosa, owned by Rick Berks, Lewis Whitaker and trainer Peter Blood, blasted out of the gate to take the field through an opening quarter of :27.2 before yielding to Arodasi and Joe Pavia, Jr. Arodasi clicked off a half in :55.2 but, three-eighths out, Ranger throttled Bombilla Hanover once again and she took command passing station three in 1:23.2 before sprinting home in :27.3 to score in a new lifetime mark.
“She can be a bit headstrong,” said driver Bruce Ranger. “In fact, she kind of drives me, but she was very sharp tonight, surprisingly fast! Peter (trainer Blood) has done a remarkable job with her to get her to calm down just a bit, so the credit goes to him.”
The win was number 14 in 57 lifetime starts for Bombilla, sending her lifetime bankroll to $127,878.
Sunday night racing begins at Pompano Park on March 3 and continues throughout the month of March with post time at 7:05 p.m.
Horsemen are reminded that there will be a triple draw on Thursday for the Saturday, March 2, Sunday, March 3 and Monday 4 racing cards with the box closing at 9:00 a.m. Thursday. The Pompano/Cal-Expo challenge will take place Monday, March 4.
(Pompano Park)