Driver Gaston Lareau seemed apologetic even though he'd just engineered a second straight win for pacer Hazel Eyes in The Favorite Series late closer on Saturday evening, May 1, at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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"This horse raced great again and all credit to his trainer, Brian Bellamy, because he overcame my mistake," Lareau said after the 1:54.1 win for the four-year-old Real Artist-Hazelton Kay gelding. "Brian and I had a plan but it didn't work out at all like we wanted. I was sixth before I knew it going into the first turn and my only option was a third over trip. Brian told me in the winner's circle he thought we were in a bad spot and I certainly agree. Fortunately, he was good enough when I pulled the earplugs turning into the stretch to bail me out," Lareau added.
Truponder, in rein to David Ingraham, blasted to the front in the $8,000 leg in :27.1 and lead through the middle portions of :57 and 1:25.1 before giving way late to Hazel Eyes and Scoot Diablo, with Wally Hennessey in tow. Hazel Eyes will now wear the favourite's label heading into the Series final on May 8 for Colborne, ON owners Carin Peel, Jason Churchill and Charles Churchill.
The last $6,500 preliminary leg of the The Springboard late closer was also contested in South Florida on the May 1 program. When race favourites Erichs Best and Hurricane Howard made early breaks a second trip ensued for 10-1 upsetter Pennthouse.
"I was aware of those horses breaking and this way a nice way for this horse to get his first lifetime win," driver Richard Simard said of the three-year-old House Of Fun-Penn Krystal gelding.
Trainer Jean Beaulieu shares ownership of the lightly raced prospect with Jacques Damours of Quebec. Codys Honor, in rein to Kevin Wallis, posted all the front end fractions in :27.4, :56.4, and 1:25.4 before fading to fourth.
"The trip worked out great for us but those other horses made big recoveries to finish right behind me, and I'd expect them to still be the horses to beat in next week's final," Simard said of Hurricane Howard and Erichs Best.
Trainer Jean Beaulieu's other winner was the fastest of the entire card, as the ageless veteran Power Park romped home in 1:52.1 over nine rivals in a $7,200 purse conditioned test. Dan Clements piloted the 10-year-old Good News Scooter-Park Lane Gal pacer as he chalked up his 59th career win to push his career bankroll to more than $724,000. Beaulieu shares ownership of Power Park with Gilbert Sauve and Jean Mondoux of Quebec.
Saturday evening's card also featured a $12,000 Open-2 Handicap Pace. Paragon, an eight-year-old Cambest-Lola pacer wired the field in 1:52.3 with Kevin Wallis in the bike for trainer Paul Holzman and Michigan owner Melvin Fink after controlling the pace in :26.3, :55.3, and 1:24. The past champion of Woodbine's Cam Fella Series handily defeated Omaha Survivor, in rein to David Ingraham, and The Quiet Mon, partnered by Wally Hennessey.
(Pompano Park)