Ppk5/8 - Nilabomb: Impressive Looks And Record

One of Florida's top fan favorites of recent vintage, Nillabomb, has returned to the top of the heap to add to her legacy. By the numbers, the iron tough mare now has 39 career wins at 15 different venues and with 31 drivers over the course of her career. The distinctively colored roan mare had been hinting in recent weeks at another breakout win. In the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace it all came together as she responded with the most late stretch pace to win in 1:52.2 highlighting the Monday evening, February 6 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

Florida's fan favorite roan mare rides high again.

Nillabomb (3-Wally Hennessey) defeats Special Sweetheart (inside, number 6 blocked from view) and Dovetail in the $12,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Monday evening, February 6, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. (Skip Smith Photo)

The weekly event for the top mares was extremely contentious in the early going as Runaway Tray driven by Bruce Ranger gave up the quarter call lead to Billie Blue Chip and Joe Pavia Jr. 27 seconds. Going to the half, Looney Dune was moved to the front by Anthony Napolitano in 55 seconds. Into the third quarter, Billie Blue Chip moved out of the pocket, providing outside cover for Special Sweetheart in rein to George Napolitano and Nillabomb partnered by Wally Hennessey to the final turn in 1:23.2. Into the stretch, Billie Blue Chip had surged to the front but was tiring from two strong moves. That cleared the way for Special Sweetheart and Nillabomb to brush widest of all and Nillabomb was the best late to win going away. Dovetail weaved through between tiring rivals for Fern Paquet Jr. to take third prize.

Eric Beach has trained Nillabomb, a graduate of the Michigan Fair Circuit, for all of her 141 career starts, 39 wins, and $413,080 in earnings. Ownership is held by Trifecta 24 Corp. which has changed it's address from Linden, MI to Boca Raton, FL. The well timed off the pace tactic by Wally Hennessey brought his lifetime win total to 7,991 in the bike.

In the $8,500 purse Mares Open II Handicap Pace, Crusin In Pink was an impressive first over winner in 1:54 over Bryan's Ideal driven by Dan Clements and C R Hope in rein to Ricky Macomber Jr. Rick Plano trains and drives the 6 year old Yankee Cruiser-Rella Hanover mare for Maryann Plano of Pompano Beach, FL. The same connections also won on the Monday evening card with claiming pace mare Aries Angel.

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 for The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.