"They could have just shown the replay from last week!"
As Pompano Park racing fan Gary Andrews lamented, Just A Bee extended her winning streak to four on Monday night in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares. The 1:51.4 score for trainer-driver Mike Micallef was almost identical manner to last week's win.
With only a quartet going behind the Hummer Starting Gate this night with a late scratch, Just A Bee left just outside of main rival Senorita Santanna, driven by George Napolitano, Jr., tracking that one all the way through panels of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before tilting out turning for home and rolling on by in mid-stretch to score by three-parts-of-a-length with the "Senorita" easily second best.
Always Dee One teamed up with Rick Plano to be third, eight lengths away, over Pertty Music, making her first start back after a four week absence.
In a post race interview, driver Mike Micallef said, "You know, she's just very sharp right now. They (horses) aren't machines so we have to enjoy these times when they occur. The trip was almost identical as last week's as we sat behind George (Napolitano) the entire way. When we turned for home, I asked her and she responded. But don't take anything away from (Senorita) Santanna, she is one heckuva mare -- tough as nails!"
Owned by Anita Micallef along with John Mc Goff and Greg Heath, Just A Bee now sports a 6-1-0 scorecard in eight starts, good for $40,750 so far this young season. Since her claim for $12,000 last September in Indiana, the seven-year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood has won 10 times in 17 starts, earned $68,200 and taken a lifetime mark of 1:50.3.
As the 1 to 5 betting favourite, Just A Bee returned $2.40 to win.
The co-featured $10,000 Open "2" Pace for mares went to Mach Me Not, deftly handled by Wally Hennessey, in 1:52.3.
Trained by Jim Mc Donald for the S S G Stables, this nine-year-old daughter of Mach Three was away fifth early on in the action-packed mile as Wind River Cat (Kevin Wallis) and Keystone Christa (Aaron Byron) barbed for early supremacy with the latter on top at the opener in :27.2--but not for long.
Mach Me Not made a quarter move from fifth to the lead down the straightaway the first time, only to be out-brushed around turn two as Glam Cam (Walter Ross, Jr.) sprinted up to take control just a couple of strides past the :56 half.
Glam Cam and Mach Me Not continued one-two past the third station in 1:23.3 with Keystone Christa making yet another bid on the outside, Wind River Cat skimming the pylons with the 1 to 5 favourite, Arodasi (Joe Pavia, Jr.), yet to fire.
In the lane, Mach Me Not took dead aim on Glam Cam and, though drifting out, sprinted clear to a win measuring 3 1/2 lengths over Glam Cam. Wind River Cat was third under the wire but set back a notch with a pylon violation moving Arodasi up to third. Glow Stick picked up the nickel.
Mach Me Not achieved her 30th lifetime victory, pushing her career bounty to $315,262--$19,240 this season on the strength of three wins in nine starts. As the 3 to 1 second choice on the tote-board, Mach Me Not Paid $8.80 to her many faithful.
The featured $12,000 Open Trot for mares went to Mc Tinys Hope, smartly handled by Ben Mc Neil.
This seven-year-old daughter of CR Excellence, trained by Jack Mc Neil for owner Ellen Mc Neil, began from the outside post seven and picked up live cover the entire final lap and then stormed home fastest of all to score a photo finish decision over My Heidi (Jason Dillander), weaving on through between horses late, and the fast closing Shes All In (Rick Plano). M T Ur Pockets finished fourth after a mild bid three-eighths out and Blushing Hanover picked up the final award in the septet. Favoured Trot Fudge Sundae made a miscue around the first turn in tight quarters.
Fifth choice in the betting, Mc Tinys Hope paid $16.40 to win with, this, her 23rd lifetime success, sending her career bounty to $132.230--$23,456 this season on the strength of a 2-3-0 scorecard in 10 starts.
Also on the card was the $10,500 Final of the "Happy Wife, Happy Life" Late Closer featuring pacing mares.
As expected, Taylor B Good, a dominant winner in the first two claiming legs of this event, completed the sweep, scoring a four length win for Rick Plano in 1:54.2 over Viewish (George Napolitano, Jr.) with Flying Topless (Aaron Byron) third. Five Stars Queen and Moon Is On Fire took home the minors in the field of eight.
Hot property lately off of claims her last three starts, Taylor B Good, off at 1 to 5 on the board, was relaxed in fifth early as Five Stars Queen took the field to the opener in :28.1, only to be replaced on the front end by Newsmaker, reaching the half in :56.3.
Taylor B Good, meanwhile, was out following cover just after three-eighths of a mile, followed that cover until three-eights out, then went on a brief double-bubble mission, assuming command around the final turn and lengthening her advantage to the wire.
Reclaimed last week by trainer Bernie Wolin for wife Hilda Wolin, Taylor B Good enjoyed the third biggest payday of her career measuring 88 starts, sending her lifetime bankroll to $89,718--$12,745 this year, $10,750 of that over the past two weeks in this late closing series. Taylor B Good paid $2.60 to win.
The second leg of the "Over The Hill Gang" pace for 10-year-olds and up was contested with eight warriors with over $2 million in lifetime earnings on the strength of over 300 lifetime wins.
Once again, it was the heavy favourite Shark Dressed Man, off at 1 to 2, holding on to score a 1:54 win for Rick Plano, his winning margin a diminishing half length over Oil Magnet (Mike Micallef) with Dr Flamingo (Aaron Byron) also in the photo. Clive Hanover was fourth with Allamerican Major next in the octet.
Shark Dressed Man, an 11 year-old gelded son of Shark St Partners, won for the 48th time during his career measuring 205 starts and sent his earnings to $329,569 -- $5,235 of that for owner Ernest Durse after his claim in mid-January.
Finally, the Super Hi-5 again had multiple winners on Monday night with the 20 cent consolation of 7-3-6-1-4 paying $37.16, sending the carryover to Wednesday night's card surging over $30,000. Post time is 7:30 for the Wednesday card.
(with files from Pompano)