by Frank Salive, publicity director, The Isle Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — The Friday and Saturday programs coming up in South Florida each have a pair of championship finals for the newly implemented late closing series.

Of particular interest on Saturday night is the $14,000 final of The Springboard Series where trainer Geoff Howles sends 3-year-old pacer Hurricane Howard into battle from post three.

“I’m 99 percent sure I know what caused him to make a break at the start last week,” Howles says. “He did the same thing near the end of last year in the elimination for the Florida Breeders championship and I treated him for EPM. It’s a tricky thing since you can never be completely sure of an accurate diagnosis or cure for it, but he was much better in that final last December 5 when he was third to Stiletto Jake. I thought he would’ve been past it from age two to three but my thought is now he has the same thing that was setting him back last Fall.”

At this stage you might tab Hurricane Howard as a replay watcher’s special treat. In his Springboard Series second leg last week, after the early break, he was so far back that he wasn’t even in the picture until late in the stretch when he came into view and roared by all rivals except the race winner Pennthouse who benefited from the second over trip. Howles shares ownership of the Mannart Howard-Extravagant Sahbra colt with Mary Gilbert.

“I trained him on Wednesday and he was acting really good,” Howles says. “Our draw luck for Saturday night is good and (driver) Wally (Hennessey) came off the bike last week really happy with how he came back in the race. In the Series’ first leg he closed great for second after a mistake in that start, too. Like all trainers I’m just hoping for a flat line and a clean trip.”

Also on Saturday night, the $16,500 final of The Favorites Series turns to the starting gate. The 4-year-old pacer Hazel Eyes is in position to sweep the series but has drawn post eight for trainer Brian Bellamy and driver Gaston Lareau.

On Friday evening, the $15,000 Springboard Trotting Series final turns to the gate along with the $17,500 final of the Longshot Trotting Series.

A total of six programs over the next three weekends will conclude the 2009-2010 season at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.