The first and final quarters of :26.4 pretty much told the story of the dominant performance by Im Just Special in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace
on Friday at Pompano Park.
With Kevin Wallis named for bike duty this week, Im Just Special stepped off the gate to the quarter in :26.4, with Bling lined up in the pocket after a sharp gate rush from the outside post. Wallis turned the race into a final half sprint for Im Just Special when passing the half in :56.4 and the three quarters in 1:25.4 after repelling a mild first-over bid in the third quarter from Cam Town Carrie.
In the stretch, only mild urging was necessary from Wallis and Im Just Special kicked home in :26.4 to comfortably hold off her main nemesis in the track's weekly top distaff class, Bling.
Tom Artandi trains Im Just Special for Susan and Ted Colby of Bronxville, NY. The Camluck-Ladys Special girl is now a career winner of $515,351 and she's regained the form which saw her take a 1:51 mark at age three in 2008 at Mohawk Racetrack when competing in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, the Fan Hanover Stakes, the Canadian Breeders' and The Simcoe Grand Circuit Stakes.
Im Just Special is the older sister to Special Sweetheart, who set the track's three-year-old filly track record at 1:52.1 last November. This win also kept trainer Tom Artandi's UTRS far above the .700 plateau, as his starters have won 8 of 12 starts in the 2009-2010 campaign at Pompano Park.
In other news, trainer Fred Grant broke through for his first win of 2010 on the Friday evening program as three-year-old pacing filly Up Front Gal upset favoured Shesapurty Lady in rein to DeWayne Minor in 1:55.3.
Up Front Gal, by Dragon Again-Shes A Daisy, was making her fifth lifetime start for Nova Scotia owners Jim Bagnell and Glendon Smith. David Ingraham was in the bike to execute the 11-1 off-the-pace upset, and he shared top driving honours on the evening at a pair of wins with Kevin Wallis. In addition to Im Just Special’s win, Wallis sent Major Trap down the road for a 1:52.4 score in the $10,000 purse Mares Open-2 Pace for owner/trainer Ron MacArthur.
On the 16-race agenda for Saturday evening, Daley Deposit Only is the 9-5 early choice in the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace and Alarming Quick is the 8-5 opening favourite in the $15,000 Open Handicap Trot.
(Pompano Park)