Just a week after a stretch collapse saw her finish sixth as the 4-5 favourite, five-year-old mare Im Just Special rebounded in the biggest possible way on the April 9 program at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The graduate of the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series program unleashed handy :26.4 speed bursts in the first and third quarters of her 1:52 triumph. Kevin Wallis had the daughter of Camluck-Ladys Special Girl out front at the quarter in :26.4 and rated to the half in :56.1. The third quarter was an all out duel nose-to-nose with Major Trap, in rein to David Ingraham, to the third marker in 1:23. In the stretch, Im Just Special refused to yield and held safe by a length over the pocket-sitting Flip For Love with Dan Clements in tow. Major Trap, who saw her three-race win streak come to an end, stoutly held third after racing first over for the final 5/8ths of the mile.
Im Just Special is trained by Tom Artandi for New York owners and breeders Susan and Ted Colby. She's won half of her 10 starts this year and this win propelled her lifetime bankroll well over the $500,000 mark. Artandi has won with nine of 15 starters in the 2009-2010 meet in South Florida and Kevin Wallis now counts 8,992 career driving wins.
In the $10,000 purse Mares Open-2 Pace, M A Jackie was a 1:53.4 front end winner in rein to Bruce Ranger. Trainer Peter Blood shares ownership on the six-year-old Eicarls Diehard-Jacqleen Lobell mare with Gary Piontowski, Stephen O'Toole and Rick Berks. Lucy Lucy returned from a month's layoff to finish second with Wally Hennessey in the bike and Cam Town Carrie finished third for driver Dan Clements.
In the $7,500 purse Mares Open-3 Pace, Shytown Lightning went blazing front end fractions of :26.3, :54.3, and 1:22.3 but held on to win in 1:54.2. Andy Santeramo trains and drives the six-year-old Artsplace-Im Whistlebait mare for J L Benson Stables of Fort Lauderdale. Party At Joyces, driven by Fern Paquet Jr., was second and Eve, in rein to Bruce Ranger, followed in for third.
In the $5,500 purse Mares Open-4 Pace, All American Celeb made a second quarter move to the front, which paved the way for a comfortable win in 1:55.3 for driver Fern Paquet Jr. The five-year-old Pro Bono Best-Cds Girl mare is trained by Jamie Paquet for In Front Racing of Riverview, Florida and this was her first win in seven starts for 2010. Scotts Sweety and David Ingraham overcame a traffic troubled trip for second while Gordys Pan, in rein to Walter Ross Jr., persisted for third.
In addition to the $15,000 Open Handicap Trot, the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace has attracted a full field of eight starters for the Saturday evening, April 10 program at 7:05 p.m. at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
(Pompano Park)