Ppk5/8 - Special Sweetheart Earns Mares Open Win

With career earnings of more than $822,000 Special Sweetheart turned to the gate as the favourite in the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace on Monday evening at Pompano. The 6 year old daughter of Western Ideal-Ladys Special Girl went off as the 3-5 public choice but was forced to withstand heavy pressure in the first quarter and final half to chalk up her 24th career win.

Special Sweetheart (5-George Napolitano Jr.) overcame a two week interval between starts and returned to her position of dominance in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on the January 23 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. (Skip Smith Photo)

 At the outset, Gaston Lareau fired longshot Miss Sparta to the top and finally gave way to Special Sweetheart partnered by George Napolitano Jr. to the quarter in 26.4. Just before the halftime rating of 56.1 flashed up, Ed Hensley had Keep On Flirtin on the move on the outside to stage a backstretch duel to the final turn in 1:24.3. Special Sweetheart drew clear late in the stretch to stop the clock in 1:53.2. Nillabomb rallied widest for Mike Micallef to nip Runaway Tray driven by Joe Pavia Jr. for the place prize. Peter Pellegrino trains Special Sweetheart for the 4 For 3 Stable of Bronxville, NY. Pellegrino and Napolitano would also team up to win with Jetta Baran in a life's mark of 1:52.3. The 7 year old daughter of Rambaran-Armbro Jetta was claimed for $7,200 after this start from the Baron Stable of Horsham, PA by Born To Run Stable and new trainer Frank Petrelli.


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 racing schedule through July of 2012.