It's that time of year when an increasing number of promising three-year-old trotters are hitting the track at Pompano Park to lay the foundation for their 2012 campaigns

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Two more prime examples were winners on the Monday, April 9 program at the South Florida venue.

Copain Du Haras, a Broadway Hall-Shimette colt, stepped to a life's mark of 1:58.1 with Dan Clements in the bike for the front-end romp. Jean Beaulieu does the training for Haras De L Estrie of Dunham, Quebec. Copain Du Haras was hammered down for $50,000 at the 2010 Lexington Select Sale as hip 147. In this event, promising Ontario Sires Stakes filly Kylie Hall was delayed in traffic and brushed in for the runner-up spot with Doug Brown in tow over Puss In Boots and driver Dan Daley.

Ontario snowbird horseman Wayne Henry uncovered a three-year-old prospect from his operation in the first race of the Monday evening program in Mint Kiss, a well-meant upset winner over Winkys Volo in 2:00.4. Mint Kiss, a filly by Cash Hall-Peppermint Kissed, started in 2011 in the New York Sires Stakes and was a $20,000 purchase by Shelley Henry of Arthur, ON from the 2010 Harrisburg Sale. She was able to edge past the Walter Ross, Jr.-driven Winkys Volo (Conway Hall-Winkys Trophy), a $70,000 yearling purchase from the Lexington Selected Sale of 2010 owned by Willow Oak Ranch of Rogersville, TN.

The $8,000 Isle Mile 1 Mares Open Handicap Pace highlighted the Monday card with Eyewitness Account taking a pocket trip to victory in 1:54.2 for owner and driver Wally Hennessey of Coconut Creek, FL. Dan Hennessey trains the Camluck-Unchained Speed five-year-old mare. Miss Sparta, in rein to Gaston Lareau, weaved through stretch traffic to finish a hard closing second. Nillabomb, with the 32nd driving partner of her career in Doug Brown at the lines, did the front end road work and persisted for third.

(Pompano Park)