While on edge awaiting the arrival of the next foal from their outstanding broodmare Ladys Special Girl, Susan and Ted Colby savored a milestone win from one of her high earning daughters on Tuesday at Pompano Park
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In the $14,000 purse top mares pacing class carded weekly in South Florida, Im Just Special was ordered to the outside in the field of eight starters. She was hard pressed to make the lead at the quarter in :26.3 but still went on to a dominating win with Bruce Ranger in the bike to send her life's earnings to more than $620,000. Cam Town Carrie, a 20-1 longshot with Wally Hennessey in tow, followed in for second and Blind To See, driven by Dan Clements, was third. Im Just Special is trained by Peter Pellegrino.
"It's been interesting for us to see how all four foals from Ladys Special Girl have progressed," said owner Ted Colby. "The older sister to Im Just Special is Special Sweetheart, she's earned more than $792,000 for us and she set the three-year-old filly pace track record here at Pompano. Im Just Special is by Camluck and Special Sweetheart is by Western Ideal. We should get a message anytime now from Mac Galbraith up in Durham, ON that the fifth foal from Ladys Special Girl has arrived, this one by Western Ideal. Ladys Special Girl is already booked back to Camluck, we already have the contract signed."
The male offspring from Ladys Special Girl were both sired by Rocknroll Hanover. Neither gelding has been a major impact player to date as Rocknroll Special (2007) has a 1:57 mark and earnings of $7,700. Special T Rocks (2008) is showing more potential with a 1:52.4 mark for over $10,000 and he's now racing from the Daryl Bier barn at Dover Downs.
"Obviously we're really hoping the news we get from Ontario is that Ladys Special Girl has had a filly by Western Ideal," said co-owner Susan Colby. "We're from Bronxville, NY which makes Yonkers our home track although we just love wintering at Pompano. Both Im Just Special and Special Sweetheart have great gate speed and they do well up there on the half mile track for us too. Like all owners we've totally enjoyed following both mares wherever they've won."
(Pompano Park)