Ppk5/8 - Runaway Tray Trips Out in Mares Open Handicap

Trainer Alex Kavoleff made a quick impact upon his return to a Pompano winter base just over a month ago and his stable leader, pacing mare Runaway Tray, came through again in the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace on the January 16 program.

Runaway Tray (8-Joe Pavia Jr.) rallied at the inside to catch I'm Just Special (7-George Napolitano Jr.) in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace feature on Monday evening, January 16, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. (Skip Smith Photo)

Ordered to start on the outside in the field of eight of the top mares in training at the meet in South Florida, Runaway Tray cleared the lead in 28 seconds and was content to follow the favored I'm Just Special and driver George Napolitano Jr. through the middle stages of 56.3 and 1:25 as that rival had to dispose of the first over challenge of C R Hope with Ricky Macomber Jr. in the bike. Late in the stretch the pylon lane opened and Joe Pavia Jr. found Runaway Tray had one more brush remaining to stop the clock in 1:53.1 by close to a quarter of a length over I'm Just Special. Nillabomb, driven by Mike Micallef, surpassed a milestone of $400,000 in lifetime earnings by closing well for third.

Runaway Tray has now won three of five Pompano starts since her first start in Florida on December 12. Her career bankroll improved to over $205,000 for the Booff Stable of Pittston, PA.

There were no winners in the Monday evening Pick-4 at Pompano, which was capped off by 11-1 longshot Paper Princess driven by Bruce Ranger. The guaranteed pool will be $12,500 for the Pompano Pick-4 on the Tuesday, January 17 program.

Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. Free race night live streaming, handicapping selections by Hall of Fame inductee John Berry, and replays are in the 'racing' tab at www.theislepompanopark.com along with the full season racing schedule through July.