The $8,000 purse opening round of the newly implemented Favorite Series was decided by the coveted second over trip playing out for the winner at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park on April 24

.

Drawing first blood in the series, for non-winners of four races, non-winners of $30,000 lifetime, and non-winners of $7,501 as of March 15, 2010 was four-year-old Real Artist-Hazelton Kay gelding Hazel Eyes.

"I was of a divided mind since the half was backed down but Gas [driver Gaston Lareau] gave him a perfect covered trip," trainer Brian Bellamy said after Hazel Eyes brushed up widest off the final turn powerfully to score in 1:55.3. "I really can't say there's a standout from the 10 horses in that field tonight that could go on and sweep the series. Maybe we caught Stiletto Jake just a little short in his first start back. Hazel Eyes has just been getting better and better with each passing week and he looks like a great fit for this series," Bellamy added.

Stiletto Jake, a huge standout last year as the Florida Breeders' two-year-old colt pace division champion of 2009 hadn't been seen since December 5 when he won the $40,000 season's stakes finale in his life's mark of 1:54.1. In his return race at three, after a pair of winning qualifiers, Tom Sells put Stiletto Jake on the point early and they dictated the fractions of :28, :59, and 1:27.3. Race favourite Truponder, in rein to David Ingraham, went first over against Stiletto Jake for just over the final half with Hazel Eyes eager on his cover all the way. Truponder persisted for third but he and Stiletto Jake were no match for Hazel Eyes stretch flurry from the second over position.

Ownership of Hazel Eyes is shared by Carin Peel, Jason Churchill, and Charles Churchill all of Colborne, ON. This was his third win from 14 starts in 2010.

The $6,500 purse opening round of Pompano's new Springboard Series late closer also had a single division on Saturday night. New York Sires Stakes hopeful Erichs Best was a wide open winner from the front end in 1:56.3. Fern Paquet Jr. had the three-year-old Pro Bono Best-T Cs Ruler gelding trained by Jamie Paquet in command all the way in :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.2 after repelling the middle stages first over bid of Touch Of Grand, driven by Bruce Ranger. Erichs Best stretched his win streak to three in a row in South Florida for owner Erich Boehm of West Palm Beach, Florida. Hurricane Howard, in rein to Wally Hennessey followed in for second with Codys Honor and Kevin Wallis for third.

In Saturday night's $15,000 Open Handicap Pace, Cammabis overcame a three week layoff to win in 1:52.1. Four Starz Bling, in rein to Wally Hennessey, made all the early pace in :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.3 and repelled the first over bid of Dan Daley's Daley Deposit Only. Cammabis, a seven-year-old Cambest-Majestic Lady, found a seat third in line in the early going and bolted out across the track three-wide in the final eighth for driver Kevin Wallis to catch Four Starz Bling. Paragon, with Dan Clements in the bike, was the longest on the board at 33-1 and persisted for third after a pocket trip. Cammabis has won seven of 13 starts in 2010 in South Florida with Paul Holzman training the career winner of over $293,000 for Boca Raton owner Fred Reitberger.

The track's schedule of four programs per week will conclude on May 1 followed by reduced dates for the final three weeks of the current meet to the conclusion on May 22 at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.

(Pompano Park)