It was just one of those elusive 'in the zone' nights in South Florida for driver Fern Paquet Jr. and his top highlight on the May 7 program was a decisive victory in the $17,500 final of the The Longshot Series with four-year-old trotter New Revenue

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"He's simply never been better than he was tonight with this life's mark of 1:57.1," Paquet said in a live trackside interview after the race. "He really turned the corner last week when he won so handily after making two big moves and he's really coming into his own," he added of the Revenue S-Umaybe gelding.

After 27-1 longshot Stylish Lad and Richard Simard blasted to the front in :27.4, Paquet had New Revenue on the move to the front to control the middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:28.3. The first over bid by Yankee Manny, in rein to Dan Daley, fizzled by the top of the stretch and New Revenue was able to glide home with a final panel in :28.3 under restraint. Ownership is shared by Richard Mauro and Wayne Lockwood of New York.

Paquet was also in the bike for Friday night wins at Pompano with All American Celeb in the $9,000 purse Mares Open-3 Pace in 1:54.2 and with M A Jackie in the $12,500 Mares Open-2 Pace with in 1:53.2. The lucrative weekend for Fern and his wife Jamie could continue on Saturday night as they go into battle in the $14,000 final of the The Springboard Series late closer with Erichs Best.

"I'm not sure that the inside post will be the best for him after he made a break on me leaving last week," Paquet said. "He's still racing a bit green and we hope he can hold his own in the New York Sires Stakes when we ship north next week to Tioga Downs and later to Saratoga," Paquet added.

Like A Gator Graduates From Spring Training

Also in South Florida in the steamy 84 degree Friday night setting was the $15,000 title race of the Spring Training Series, a late closer for young trotters that were non-winners of two races as of March 15, 2010.

"Really all of his races have been very exciting and I had full faith in [driver] Wally Hennessey when he put Like A Gator on the lead just after the quarter," co-owner Mary Birkhold said in the live post-race trackside TV interview. "He looked great finishing up too and we hope to enjoy following his progress over the next several months," she added.

After Borga Crash and driver Frode Fladen posted the front panel in :29.2, Hennessey moved out of the pocket with Like A Gator to seize command well before the half in :59.4. The first over move was made by Reven Up, in rein to Dan Daley, to the final turn in 1:29.3 and Like A Gator coasted home to win easily in 1:59. Borga Crash and Reven Up gave futile chase to the finish. Like A Gator has already won five times from fifteen starts this year at Pompano for almost $25,000 in season's earnings.

"We've staked up Like A Gator pretty well," co-owner George Birkhold added. "He'll be returning to the Kentucky Sires Stakes and we've paid him into a lot of events in the midwest like the Simpson Stakes and Arden Stakes, and another in Indiana," he said of the Like A Prayer-Las Ventanas three-year-old gelding. "Mary and I are originally from Ohio but have lived in Sarasota, Florida for many years and the trip over to Pompano is really great when you have an improving young trotter like this. We're also really pleased he races from the care of [trainer] Kim Sears and that Jay Sears is on the ownership papers with us," Birkhold added.

In addition to the The Springboard Pacing Series final, the Saturday night program on May 8 at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park will also feature the $16,500 purse title match for The Favorites Late Closer Pacing Series and an 11-race card at 7:05 p.m.

(Pompano Park)