Powerful Poe hopes to write a winning story in Wednesday’s $76,500 American National Stakes for two-year-old male trotters at Balmoral Park.

Trained by Dirk Simpson, the colt has won two of nine races this year and earned $36,679 for owners Mystical Marker Farms, Jack Hood and Peggy Hood. His triumphs came in his two most recent starts, the $40,000 State Fair final at Balmoral on August 19 and the $15,000 Darn Safe at DuQuoin on August 26.

Powerful Poe, who will start in the American National from post four with driver Todd Warren, received a bye into the final. Semper Fit, who finished second to Powerful Poe in the State Fair final and Darn Safe, won the American National elimination by two and a half lengths over Crazed N Lindy in a career-best 1:57.3.

“He had a real good training week last week and he came out of it real well,” Simpson said. “He jogged well [Monday] and feels pretty fresh.

“It had been almost 18 days since his last start, so I’d rather have [an elimination] in a six or seven-horse field than had a bye. But I guess it’s one less two-year-old race he’s got to go through this year. We’re trying to be positive about it. He’s really easy on himself; a very smart colt. With the way he trained the other day it seems like he was pretty sharp. We got a decent post position, so that helps too.”

Powerful Poe is a son of Powerful Emotion out of the mare Fox Valley Poetry and was purchased for $12,000 at the Walker Standardbred Sale. He is a full brother to 2010 Plesac and State Fair winner Powerful Charger and his family also includes 2010 Oliver Trotting Classic winner Powerful Speed.

“I knew the mother and he’s got a brother that was pretty sharp, so that helped,” Simpson said. “The mare seems like she’s a little more dominant on the colt side, so that was a plus also. His size and pedigree was a big plus for him. He’s a nice, big colt.”

Simpson is happy with the way Powerful Poe has progressed through the season.

“He’s never been big and flashy, but he’s done everything I’ve ever asked him to do,” Simpson said. “We kind of brought him along slowly and he came along right with the program and matured very easily. He’s only really gone one bad race and he was sick that week.

“He seems to be pretty consistent right now. He’s getting a little bit stronger. I think he’s going to perform the same week to week now, so if the racing luck can go our way, we should be in pretty good shape.”

Show Ticket and Super Classic also received byes into the final. Here is a look at the American National field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers.

1. The Art Of Lindy, Michael Oosting, Frank Antonacci
2. Longwell, Dan Shetler, Shetler
3. Dreams Of Thunder, Dave Magee, Mike Brink
4. Powerful Poe, Todd Warren, Dirk Simpson
5. Show Ticket, Magee, Charlie Norris
6. Crazed N Lindy, Antonacci, Antonacci
7. Semper Fit, Homer Hochstetler, Hochstetler
8. Held In Balance, Josh Sutton, Marna Shehan
9. Super Classic, TBA, D.R. Ackerman
10. Odds On Windy City, Marcus Miller, Robin Schadt

The Art Of Lindy and Crazed N Lindy will race as an entry.

Also on Wednesday night, Balmoral hosts the $70,000 American National for two-year-old filly trotters. Here is the field in post position order:

1. Bull Spreader, Marcus Miller, Ron Gurfein
2. Marys Master, Dave Magee, James Fox
3. Fox Valley Vachel, Ryan Anderson, James Eaton
4. Saintly, Homer Hochstetler, Hochstetler
5. Pure Romance, Charlie Norris, Norris
6. Trot Fudge Sundae, Magee, Dirk Simpson
7. Fox Valley Roxy, Michael Oosting, Randy Tuftie
8. Little Ms Chrissy, Robert Taylor, Taylor