Illinois-conceived and foaled trotters of both sexes shared top billing on the Wednesday, November 4 program at Balmoral Park, as diagonally-gaited freshmen battled in Sarah Myers Stakes action. With a total of 13 fillies dropped into the entry box, two $18,350 divisions were contested, while eight of their male counterparts battled for a purse of $29,180 later in the night.

In the first filly split, Powers Farms Southern Maebelle continued to impress, as she cruised to an effortless one and three-quarter-length triumph in 1:59.4.

Perfectly positioned in the pocket by driver Tyler Buter, the daughter of High Falls--Summer In The City was content to allow St Louis Holiday (driven by Rick Dane, Jr.) to lead the way through opening splits of :30 and 1:00.

Mid-way around the final turn, Buter moved Southern Maebelle to the outside, as a hard charging Claires Rose (James Stiltner) came rolling up on the outside of horses. Quickly engaging the leader, Southern Maebelle was just a head behind the pacesetting St Louis Holiday, as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:30.4.

Setting sail for home, Southern Maebelle quickly swallowed up the pacesetter. Just when it looked as though Claires Rose would have a chance to make things interesting, disaster struck for the filly, as she went off stride, which took her out of contention. The issue was never in doubt from that point on, as the Robert Taylor-trained Southern Maebelle was on cruise control the rest of the way, reporting home with her fourth win in 12 starts. Powerful Bella (Mike Oosting) rallied to finish second, while St Louis Holiday held on for third.

Backed as though defeat was out of the question, Southern Maebelle returned just $2.10, $2.10 and $2.10.

In the second division, the 'chalk' players never had a chance, as Fox Valley Luxury, the 2-5 favourite in the race, made a break behind the gate and was never in contention, which allowed Fox Valley Click (Dale Hiteman) to turn a golden trip into her first career victory, as she reported home with a two and three-quarter-length verdict in 2:00.1.

With the favourite making a break just inside of them, driver Dale Hiteman took full advantage of the opening and wisely placed the daughter of Vaporize--Fancy Creek Photo right on the back of Fox Valley Ripple (Todd Warren) as that filly led the way through splits of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:30.3.

Through the stretch, a locked and loaded Fox Valley Click anxiously awaited her chance in the passing lane, as Fox Valley Ripple and a first-over Merry High (Mike Oosting) battled it out. With a sixteenth of a mile to go, Fox Valley Ripple went off stride, which allowed Hiteman even more room to come charging up the passing lane for the victory. Merry High turned in a game effort to finish second, while Vapor Girl (Dean Magee) rallied for third.

The victory was the first in five career starts for the Joel Smith trainee who also has a pair of seconds to her credit. The second choice in the wagering returned $9.20, $4.20 and $4.40.

The $29,180 stakes event for the colts figured to be a wide open affair, and it turned out to be just that as four of the eight starters, including the eventual winner, Gumcorner Road, and the 6-5 favourite, Powerful Speed, made breaks. When the stewards finally sorted things out, Robert Taylor, Robert Rietveld and Paul Gibson’s Dutch Commander wound up being the beneficiary of a disqualification, as he was moved from second to first to get his maiden victory.

The miscues started early, as the pocket-sitting Powerful Speed (Josh Sutton), the 6-5 favourite after his win in last week’s Hanover Stakes, made a break while following Muscatine (Dale Hiteman) through an opening quarter in :28.3.

Heading down the backstretch, 69-1 outsider Gumcorner Road (Connel Willis) swept up to take command leading the field through middle splits of :58.3 and 1:29.1.

In the lane, Gumcorner Road continued to cling tenaciously to a short advantage, as Muscatine moved alongside in second and a hard charging Hokey Pokey (Mike Oosting) began to close in on the leaders while racing on the far outside. At this point, driver Tyler Buter was desperately looking for room along the inside with a headstrong Dutch Commander.

Coming down to the wire, a game but tired Gumcorner Road was all out to hold on to his lead as the trotters spread out across the track. The son of Elk Creek then wound up making a break just a few steps from the finish line. Despite holding on to win by a head that miscue wound up costing him two spots, as he was set back to third after being lapped on by both Dutch Commander and Hokey Pokey. Fourth-place finisher Big Bucks (James Stiltner) also made a late break and wound up being disqualified from fourth and placed fifth for failure to lose ground while on a break.

The Robert Taylor trained son of Vaporize--Vivacious Victory more than doubled his career bankroll with the first place cheque of $14,580 while returning $13.40, $5.60 and $4.80.

(With files from Balmoral)