Six mares square off at PPk

Velvet Eileen and Hypnotize, separated by a half length in their most recent encounter, headline a field of six pacers that will assemble for the featured $10,000 Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace at Pompano Park on Friday.

Velvet Eileen, owned by Rod Lorenzo, Ciro Gentile, and Pomtambo Stable, has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Friday feature. Trained by Michile Lorenzo, the 4-year-old daughter of Mark Johnathan scored in last week’s Isle Mile I for female pacers when prevailing by a half length in 1:53.3 in her seasonal debut.

That victory marked the second consecutive trip to the winner’s circle for Velvet Eileen, who closed out her sophomore campaign with a strong 4 ¼-length triumph at Indiana Downs on Nov. 3.

Velvet Eileen has drawn post five for Friday’s pace and will be driven by Wally Hennessey.

Hypnotize, a 5-year-old daughter of Artiscape, returns for the Friday feature for the ownership of Louis Diffenback, William Mack Jr., Lisa Diffenback and trainer Jim Mattison. Hypnotize has visited the winner’s circle in six of 14 appearances at Pompano this year, and scored a solid victory three starts ago when covering the mile in 1:53.4 to win by a head.

Installed as the 5-2 second choice in the morning line, Hypnotize will be driven from post four by David Ingraham.

Starting from post six in the Friday feature is My Metallica, a 4-year-old daughter of Party At Artsplace owned by Ciara Stable, Michael Polansky and William Johnston III, and trained by Tom Harmer.

In her juvenile season, My Metallica was named Illinois-bred 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year after banking $140,165 with three wins from nine starts, including a victory in the $260,000 Orange & Blue Filly Pace at Balmoral Park.

My Metallica scored in a $21,500 non-winners event at the Meadowlands in 1:54.4 on Feb. 2, and most recently the mare qualified at Pompano on April 6, winning her heat by 4 ¼ lengths in 1:57.1.

Anthony Napolitano has accepted the driving assignment for My Metallica, who is listed at 8-1 in the morning line.

Drawing the inside post for the Friday feature is Knockout Stable’s Wilma Hall, a winner two starts ago when prevailing by three lengths over a sloppy track in 1:56.1. Earlier this season, the daughter of Blissfull Hall paced a winning mile in 1:53.1, and last November, the Jim McDonald trainee became the fastest female pacer in the 43-year history of Pompano Park when scoring in 1:51.3.

Wilma Hall is listed at 9-2 in the morning line and will have Pompano Park’s leading driver, Bruce Ranger, at the lines.

Rounding out the field for Friday’s Fillies and Mares Isle Mile I Pace is Cape Cove Daisy, the third-place finisher at this level last week, and Golden Falcon N, who has crossed the wire fourth in each of her last three appearances. (Pompano Park)

« Back