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All-age record set by Esmeralda Semalu

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February 18, 2009

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Esmeralda Semalu became the fastest filly or mare ever to race in the 45-year history of the Isle Pompano Park Tuesday, winning the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:51.1 to set the all-age track record.

Trained and driven to victory by Joe Pavia Jr., Esmeralda Semalu took the early lead away from Shytown Lightning (Andy Santeramo) at the opening quarter mile of the feature in :27.4. She then cut fractions of :56.2 and 1:24, pulling away from the field and then kicked in a :27.1 last quarter mile to win in a romp by 7 1/2 lengths over Chapsboots N Spurs (Wally Hennessey) and Shytown Lightning.

Owned by the BJR and AGC Stables of Boca Raton and Highland Beach, respectively, it was a lifetime record and the fourth win in six starts this year for Esmeralda Semalu, a 5-year-old mare by Electric Stena. According to the United States Trotting Association, Esmeralda Semalu is now the fastest mare on a five-eighths mile track in North America this year. The previous all-age record for fillies or mares at the Isle Pompano Park was set in 2006 by Wilma Hall in 1:51.3.

�We purchased this mare for $75,000 last year.� Pavia said. �And she had some problems and needed tie-back throat surgery. So after that we gave her a lot of time off and now she has come back to reward us big time.

�She was off a week before tonight�s start.� Pavia explained. �And in her prior start she seemed a little dull and could not get into the flow of the race so at the last second tonight I decided to change that and left out of the gate with her. Once she got to the front she settled down and obviously had plenty of pace.� (Pompano Park)

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