by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — On a festive Saturday (March 12) eveningunder clear skies and flags from 11 different nations gracing the Pompano Parkwinner’s circle, the Isle International Amateur Driving Championship gotunderway with drivers from nine European countries, New Zealand and the UnitedStates in the limelight.

New Zealand’s Danny Blakemore, a winner with the 8-year-old pacingmare Head First in the second of four divisions, is the current leader in thecompetition while Germany’s Michael Gutsche is next after he drove the 10-year-oldtrotter Play Fair to a 1:59 win.

Russia’s Ivan Serik ranks third after the first night’s actionafter rallying late with the 7-year-old trotter Bad Angel for a photo finishvictory in 1:59.3 and rewarding his faithful with a $44.60 mutuel.

Hungary’s Andrea Fazekas is next after having kicked the amateurseries off with a handy win with the the 5-year-old trotting mare PrincessCrown in 1:56.4.

Dein Spriggs (U.S.A.) is next followed by Johann Preinling, Jr.while Jaime Bassa and Enrico Colombino are in a dead-heat for the seventh spot.Denmark’s Michael Holmer is next while Norway’s Nils Oliv-Holm and Finland’sTaipo Hoikka complete the roster in the first of two rounds.

Indeed, the festivities kicked off with Ms. Fazekas givingPrincess Crown picture perfect handling to score a two length win overpacesetting Baby Boy Grin (Dein Spriggs) in the aforementioned time of 1:56.4.

Mr Wizard, driven by Spain’s Jaime Bassa, finished third, threelengths away. Witty’s Winner (Danny Blakemore) finished fourth while Super Duke(Nils-Oliv Holm) finished fifth.

Trained by Jacques Dupont for Dennis Goyette and Paul AndreLehoux, Princess Crown, a daughter of Elegant Crown, won for the initial timethis semester and pushed her lifetime bounty to 75,722.

It was the 136th lifetime victory for Ms. Fazekas–first in theU.S.A.–as she rewarded her faithful with a mutuel of $19.40.

Blakemore, a DVD store owner in his native land of New Zealand,followed trainer Gaston Lareau’s instructions to a “T” as he tookHead First right to the front and defied all challenges through panels of:28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.4 before a :28.2 sccoot home sealed the deal in 1:56.1.

Internal Check, driven by Johann Preining, Jr., finished second,three lengths away, while Mighty Nice and drirver Michael Guetsche teamed up tobe third.

Rock Groupie (MIchael Holmer) was fourth while Country Fresh,handled by Ms Fazekas, rallied for the nickel.

In a postrace interview, Blakemore lauded the mare, the track crewand the trainer saying the mare was very willing all the way around and on atrack that was so excellent that you could hardly hear the horse’s hooves onthe track. Just like Mr. Lareau said, ‘she’ll be sharp tonight if you put heron the lead.’ It was a beautiful experience.”

Blakemore then said that he expected that the DVD of the racewould become the a best seller in his store.

Trained by Lareau for Raynald Phaneuf, Richard Robert and PatrickDillaire, Head First, an 8-year-old daughter of Headmaster, reached a milestoneof sorts with her 25th career win–third this year in 10 starts–to push becareer bounty to $93,205.

As the even-money favorite on the tote-board, Head First paid$4.20 to win.

Germany’s Gutsche, a accountant by trade in his homeland, won thethird event with the 10-year-old trotter PLay Fair, a gelded son of SelfProfessed.

Owned and trained by Darrell Wright, Play Fair led at everymarker, stopping the tele-timer in 1:59 after a perfectly rated mile thatincluded panels of :29, :58.3 and 1:29.1.

After the event, an elated Gutsche said, “this is a greatthrill for me. I did win a race in the States some years ago but this one isvery special, especially against these very talented, world class amateurdrivers.

“I was told by Mr. Wright (trainer Darrell Wright) to try andgo to the front and then stay there. That was kind of easy for me because, in Germany,I have a reputation of never letting anyone go by once I have the lead. Mr.Wright also warned me not to hit the horse–not even once–because he will stopcold! I followed his orders. This was very gratifying.”

Play Fair won for the third time this year in eight starts and nowhas lifetime earnings of $446,357 on the strength of his 32 lifetime wins.

As third choice in the betting, Play Fair paid $13.00 to win.

The Saturday night finale went to the 21-1 outsider Bad Angel,with Russia’s Ivan Serik in the sulky.

The 7-year-old daughter of Valley Victor used a furious rally indeep stretch to score by a nose in 1:59.3 over the pacesetting Guilford (DannyBlakemore) with Sorrento Hall (Michael Gutsche) third, 3-1/4 lengths away. WhatAbout Brian was fourth for Italy’s Enrico Colombino while Rel Cash Clown wasfifth for Spain’s Jaima Bassa.

Bad Angel won for the initial time in 2016–her scorecard comingin 6-0-0-0.

This win, only her third lifetime in 89 starts, propelled herlifetime bounty to $45,501

Owned and trained by George Coblentz, Bad Angel returned thelargest dividend in the series thus far–$44.60 for the $2 investment.

After the event, an elated Serik said, through an interpreter,”This is a great thrill for me. This is my first trip to the United Statesand everyone has been so very nice and accommodating. This is something I willalways treasure and never forget.”

Adding to this festive occasion was the appearance of thelegendary Roger Huston, who called the entire nine race program.

Huston, who has called some 172,000 races during his career, saidof the evening, “Something like this never gets old for me. It’s just anhonor to be a part of an international event like this!”

The grand finale of the Isle International Amateur DrivingChampionship concludes on Sunday night with an additional perk being the largecarryover in the Super Hi-5–now close to $70,000.

Post time for the Sunday night card is 7:30 p.m.