Anthonyskywalker continued the impressive start to his sophomore season on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as knocked off eight other Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-old trotting colts in wire-to-wire fashion to take the $9,000 Mikes A Mystery Stake
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Taking full advantage of the inside starting spot, driver-trainer Homer Hochstetler charged away from the gate with Anthonyskywalker and was in command of the proceedings while the rest of the field settled in behind them through an opening quarter in :28.1.
Continuing to trot along comfortably on the engine, the gelded son of Powerful Emotion-Queen Jamie cruised through middle splits of :57 and 1:26 while keeping his rivals at bay.
With plenty left in reserve as the field turned for home, Hochstetler and Anthonyskywalker continued to show the way by one and a half lengths over the pocket-sitting Fox Valley Arrow (Casey Leonard). A first over bid from Powerful Position (Brian Carpenter) had stalled at that point leaving Fox Valley Arrow in the passing lane as the only threat. With only mild urging from his pilot, Anthonyskywalker effortlessly rolled home in :29.3 over the sloppy track to win by a half-length in a snappy 1:55.4. Fox Valley Arrow was second while Fox Valley Iliad (Kyle Husted), another Hochstetler trainee, rallied to be third.
The win was the fifth in six starts this season for Anthonyskywalker, who pushed his career bankroll up to $62,127 with the victory for owner South Of The Tracks Racing. Hammered at the betting windows off his impressive sophomore record, the gelding returned just $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10.
(Balmoral Park)