Sophomore trotting fillies stepped into the spotlight on Wednesday at Balmoral Park as a field of nine diagonally gaited state-breds squared off in a $17,000 Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders Association Stake.

Fresh off a win in the Lady Ann Reed Consolation, L&L DeVisser’s Chugwater Gal continued her late season surge with an impressive four-length victory in 1:57.4.

Grinding it out first-over for the final five-eighths of a mile, driver Nick Giberson eased his charged alongside the pace setting Fox Valley Shannon after that filly had led the field through splits of :29.1, :58.1 & 1:28.4.

Easily trotting past the 4-5 favourite in the lane, Chugwater Gal quickly opened up an insurmountable advantage over the rest of her rivals by the mid-stretch call. Showing no signs of the breaking problems that plagued her in two of her three previous starts, the daughter of Valley Victor – Tuf Kim was on cruise control the rest of the way as she recorded her third win in 13 starts this season.

Marilyns Lil Aggie (Dave Magee) followed the winners every move to get the second place cheque while longshot Plenary (Brent Holland) finished third.

Under the patient tutelage of Giberson, Chugwater Gal now boasts six wins, two seconds and seven thirds in 26 career starts with earnings of $127,841. Despite coming off that victory in her previous start, Chugwater Gal returned a hefty $15.40, $5.20 & $4.00 to her backers.

(Balmoral Park)