Lanson made a triumphant return to the races, winning his seasonal debut with a five-length romp in the

$16,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park on Monday evening.

The fifth race feature saw Cisco Hall leave from the outside in post eight and take the lead away from Keystone Empire, but then Keystone Empire went off-stride. That gave the two-hole trip to Diva Diva by the opening quarter mile in :27.4.

Right after the opening quarter mile, Lanson and driver Mark O’Mara tried to come first-over but Diva Diva left the pocket and darted out to challenge Cisco Hall and parked Lanson three-wide in the front of the grandstand. But before the half-mile pole in :57.3, Lanson had taken control of the lead with Diva Diva in second place.

As the field entered the backstretch No Pain No Gain came first-over and pressed the leaders to the three-quarter mile marker in 1:28.3, but that effort only urged Lanson on as he then pulled away from the field in the stretch to win with ease in 1:56.3. No Pain No Gain was second with Duke Of Stormont third.

Owned by the Royal Wire Products Stable of North Royalton, OH and trained by Don Swick, Lanson is a five-year-old gelding by Self Possessed. Last year he won $118,000 with five wins on the season.

(Pompano Park)