Record smooth as velvet

Velvet Eileen, who visited the winner’s circle for the third straight time on Friday, set a Pompano Park track record for a 4-year-old pacing mare when taking the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace in 1:52.

Driven from post five by Wally Hennessey, Velvet Eileen emerged from a brief three-horse skirmish to claim the top spot as the pacers entered the first turn, taking the field through an opening quarter mile in :27.1. The Indiana-bred daughter of Mark Johnathan continued to pace confidently on the lead through a half mile in :56.2, before reaching the three-quarters marker in 1:24.

Velvet Eileen entered the stretch with a 1 ¾-length advantage, and was never threatened down the lane, prevailing by 1 ½ lengths at the wire.

Velvet Eileen returned $4.60, $2.80, $3.20 for the win. Wilma Hall (Bruce Ranger) paid $4.20, $3.60 for second while Cape Cove Daisy (Stephan Lareau) brought in $3.60 for third.

Owned by Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile and Pomtambo Stable, and trained by Michile Lorenzo, Velvet Eileen closed out her 2006 season with a victory at Indiana Downs on Nov. 3 and is undefeated in two appearances at Pompano this year.

With her record setting mile of 1:52, Velvet Eileen knocked two-fifths of a second o ff the previous mark for a 4-year-old pacing mare of 1:52.2, which was set by Caesar’s Jackpot on Oct. 20, 1990. (Pompano)

« Back