by Mike Bozich, for Hazel Park

Hazel Park, MI — Hazel Park Raceway will kick off its 57th year of harness racing on Friday night (May 1) with a post time of 7:25 p.m.

Friday night’s card features Invitational trotters in race seven. Morning line favorite and the fastest trotter in Hazel Park history, Home Stretch, looks to remain undefeated in 2009. Owned and trained by June Du Russel, Home Stretch has won 19 races in 49 career starts with earnings just below $100,000.

Main competition arrives in the form of Paul Cloer’s Coach Fox, who just missed in Northville Downs’ featured event last week despite a tough trip.

Filly and Mare Preferred pacers take the stage in the next race. The horse to beat is the talented 6-year-old mare Renaissance Woman. The Paul Kennedy trainee earned well over $100,000 in 2008 and appears to be rounding into form for the Hazel meet, where she dominated last year.

Top contenders include 4-year-old Albert Albert mare Jump Start, who is coming off a tough loss to Frank Tomcala’s Jamirotoy last week at Northville Downs.

Hazel Park races live every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with a post time of 7:25 p.m. Hazel Park will offer Action on the Apron featuring $1 nights every Friday throughout the 2009 meet. Other specials include $3.99 NY Strip Steaks on Monday, Tiger Ticket Tuesdays, and a delicious $10.99 Prime Rib Dinner special on Saturdays.