Tuesday night is Esmeralda Semalu night at Pompano

If it’s Tuesday then it must be Esmeralda Semalu Night at the Isle Pompano Park as the top mare of the 2009 season made it three straight wins in the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.

The feature started off with Golden Falcon N and driver David Ingraham speeding to the early lead by the opening quarter in :26.4 with Catalina Morgan (Denis St. Pierre) sitting on their back.

Heading towards the half-mile pole, Chapsboots N Spurs (Wally Hennessey) came first-over to challenge in :56.2 with Crystal Chris (Bruce Ranger) following the outside flow second-over. Meanwhile, the 6-5 race favorite, Esmeralda Semalu and trainer-driver Joe Pavia Jr., were stalking the leaders ten lengths back in last place.

As the field reached the three-quarter marker in 1:24.3, Pavia and Esmeralda Semalu used the same tactics as last week, sweeping three wide on the final turn and moving up to second place by the top of the stretch. It was all a blur for the rest of the field as Esmeralda Semalu kicked in a :27.3 last quarter to pull away from the field and win by 2 3/4 lengths. Shytown Lightning (Andy Santeramo) was second with Golden Falcon N third.

Owned by the BJR Stables and the AGC Stables, Esmeralda Semalu paid $4.40 to win. She is a 5-year-old mare by Electric Stena. (Pompano Park)

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