Wilma!!!!!!!

The Knockout Stable’s Wilma Hall, who scorched Pompano’s five-eighths mile oval last week in a track record for mares, 1:51.3, defended her crown on Friday night, kayoing her competition with a :55.2 final half-mile in completing a 1:53.2 mile for driver Brett Miller in the $10,000 Mares Open pace. Townline Lily was second for Bruce Ranger, while Evere’s Connections earned the third spot for Wally Hennessey.

Miller gave the 5-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall a masterful drive, taking the lead a few steps out of the gate and then silencing early threats with a :27.4 opening quarter mile. Once the field settled down, Miller grabbed hold of “Wilma” and lollygagged through a :30.1 second quarter, to reach the half in :58, with Evere’s Connection in the garden spot, Race Me Valerie (Kevin Wallis) third, and Townline Lily fourth.

On the backstretch, Wilma Hall’s pace quickened, and her :28 third panel brought her to the three-quarter mark in 1:26, with Evere’s Connection now two lengths away and Townline Lily next on the outside.

But on this night, a :27.2 final quarter easily sealed the deal, and the final margin was a length and a quarter over the late-charging Townline Lily.

Jim McDonald trains Wilma Hall, who got her eighth win in 29 starts this year, to send her 2006 bankroll to $59,950. She has earned $186,441 lifetime. (Pompano)

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