He was one of two locals to strike on a night when the favourites came to the fore across the four pacing heats.
Leap To Fame started a raging $1. 08 favourite in heat three and never looked in danger, working to the front before drawing away to win by close to 5m.
He looked to win with something in hand and clocked the fastest time across the four heats, an ominous sign for his series rivals.
Trainer/driver Grant Dixon had few concerns in the run and was a justifiably happy man after crossing the line.
"It wasn't too hard for him, he did it well and hopefully we can continue with reasonable draws and see how our luck turns out," Dixon said.
"I was quite happy with how he went through the line, he did it nice."
Leap To Fame's biggest threat in the series looks to be his half-brother Swayzee who continued a winning streak with a strong victory in his heat.
The recent New Zealand Cup winner showed no ill effects of his tough campaign when finding the front and easily defying the challengers.
""Gee he felt incredible after the line, he was just warming up," winning driver Cameron Hart said.
"That's probably the harder one out of the way with the short distance, he just relishes the longer distance."
Progressive four-year-old Future Assured provided the other local win when taking out the opening heat.
"It was good to get the first one out of the way. It looked our best chance on paper over a mile to get good points," his trainer driver Trent Dawson said.
"He doesn't look like he's hurting too much from the run so hopefully we'll back up on Tuesday."
The other winner was Victorian Better Eclipse who claimed an Inter Dominion heat for the second year running and driver Greg Sugars believed he could be ready to go deeper into the series this time.
"We thought the horse was coming up here in really good form and it's pleasing that the trip hasn't knocked him around," Sugars said.
"He's a bit more seasoned to this sort of racing now, he handles runs a lot better so I don't think (backing up) will be a problem.
The second round of heats will take place at Albion on Tuesday night.
