A new recruit to the Erv Miller Stable had a promising pari-mutuel debut on American soil on Saturday night in South Florida at Pompano Park

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Albionking Espolon, a five-year-old Mumbo King-Damir Pats Espata pacer bred by Haras Albion of Argentina, was sent first over for the final three-quarters of the mile to handily defeat the non-winners of two races competition and earn a one mile race record of 1:55.1. Lewayne Miller was in the bike for owner Martinez Equine of Wellsville, Pennsylvania.

Happy Coincidence For Whitaker & Micallef

There were going to be broad smiles anyway after the win by Dragons Blood following the Saturday night feature at Pompano Park, but the occasion was made even sweeter for the pacer's connections by the events of the week leading up to the race.

"Last Wednesday, my trainer and driver Mike Micallef and his wife welcomed the arrival of a baby girl into their family and they've named her Miley Kay," owner Lew Whitaker of Boynton Beach, Florida said in a live trackside TV interview after the race. "As soon as I got that news, I got a call on Wednesday from Jean Brown up at Blue Chip Farms in New York that a mare I own had foaled. I'm considering giving my new filly the name same as the Anita and Mike Micallef gave their daughter, but we have a while before we have to decide."

In the $14,000 purse event, Dragons Blood stepped to the front comfortably to set the fractions of :28.2, :56.3, 1:24.1 and 1:52.1. With race favourite Daley Deposit Only mired in traffic, the seven-year-old Dragon Again-Canaco Model gelding comfortably held off 29-1 longshot Avantage, in rein to Tom Sells, and Anescape N, partnered by Bruce Ranger.

"To have Dragons Blood bounce back so well from last week's sickness and win is the perfect ending to a great week for all of us," added Whitaker, who shares ownership of the 31-time career of over $284,000 with Anita Micallef.

Tribute To Pierre Fortin

A moment of silence was observed during the Saturday night card at Pompano for groom Pierre Fortin, who passed away earlier in the week.

"He was a great horseman for over half a century and so unselfish, he took better care of the horses than he did of himself," said trainer Gaston Glaude. "He never had a bad word for anyone and he was so well liked on the Pompano backstretch. This is a very sad loss for everyone that knew and liked him."

Fortin hailed from Laval, Quebec and was 65 years old at the time of his passing.

(With files from Pompano Park)