Trotter scores first of year in Pompano open

Lanson ($2.80) made a triumphant return to the races in 2009, winning his seasonal debut with a five-length romp Monday at the Isle Pompano Park in the $16,000 Open Handicap Trot.

The feature saw Cicsco Hall (Dan Clements) leave from the outside in post eight and take the lead away from Keystone Empire (Richard Simard) but then Keystone Empire went offstride, giving the two-hole trip to Diva Diva (Andy Santeramo) 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 (Joe Pavia Jr.) 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 (Walter Ross Jr.) third.

Owned by the Royal Wire Products Stable of North Royalton, Ohio and trained by Don Swick, Lanson is a 5-year-old gelding by Self Possessed. Last year he won $118,000 with five wins on the season. (Pompano Park)

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