Exhibiting the form that has kept her atop the Illinois conceived and foaled trotting ranks in each of her first two seasons on the track, Powers Farms' Southern Maebelle trotted to a three-quarter-length victory in Wednesday’s $9,000 Sorce Ann Stake at Balmoral Park

. The final time was 1:59 over a “sloppy” track.

After getting away in second, driver Brian Carpenter pulled from the pocket with Southern Maebelle just as St Louis Holiday led the field through an opening quarter in a leisurely :30.3.

Battling down the backside Southern Maebelle grabbed command of the proceedings leading the field by the halfway mark in :59.3.

Cruising around the far turn the daughter of High Falls-Summer In The City opened up a three-length advantage as she rolled past the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.4.

Through the stretch the Gerald Hansen-trained miss continued to show the way as KFspictureperfect (Leroy Miller) tried to zero on in her from third. Flashing the grit and determination that earned her a victory in last week’s ISOBA Stake, Southern Maebelle dug in gamely, holding firm through the final sixteenth of a mile to earn her third win in six starts this year. KFspictureperfect was a hard trying second while St Louis Holiday held on for third.

Sent off as the overwhelming 3-5 choice, Southern Maebelle returned $3.40, $2.20, $2.10 as she moved her career earnings up to $146,019.

(Balmoral Park)