The countdown to Illinois' biggest night of racing action, Super Night 2013, began in earnest on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Balmoral Park as 12 eliminations battles were contested by some of Illinois top pacers.

Kicking things off were a trio of $15,000 Orange & Blue Stake elimination’s for two-year-old pacing colts. The top three finishers in each elimination as well as one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) will advance to next Saturday’s $200,000 est. final.

In the first division, Obermeier & Quaid Stable’s PQ Three continued his recent winning streak as the Erv Miller trainee posted a one and a quarter length decision in 1:54.1.

Sent right to the front from his outside starting spot by driver Mike Oosting, the son of Yankee Skyscaper—Sweltering cruised through splits of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:26.2 while easily keeping his rivals at bay throughout the mile. Overloaded (Kyle Wilfong) sat right on the winner’s back the entire way to earn the place money while Cotton Eyed Joe (Robert Smolin) rallied to be third. Daves Skyscaper was fourth.

The win was the sixth in 10 starts this year for PQ Three, who now boasts $114,399 in career earnings.

In the second elimination, Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Deuce prevailed in a thrilling three-horse photo, winning by a nose in a career-best clocking of 1:54.3 for Dale Hiteman.

Perfectly positioned while saving ground in fourth as Fox Valley Cupid (Ryan Anderson) carved out splits of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:26.4, the Joel Smith (two wins) trainee pulled as the field neared the top of the stretch. Battling tooth and nail through the lane, the son of Sportsmaster—Dodger Girl managed to get a nose in front in the final strides to earn his second win in 10 tries. Fox Valley Cupid held on for second while I Bizel The Shizel (John De Long) rallied up the passing lane to be third. Mannys Z Tam was fourth.

The final division was taken by Jack and Peggy Hood, Mystical Marker Farms and Dirk Simpson Stables' Traffic Cop, who reported home with a three and a half length score in a lifetime-best of 1:54.2.

Zipped right to the front as 4-5 favourite Badger Quinn went off stride right at the start, driver Todd Warren did a nice job of directing the proceedings as he rolled through splits of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.3. After turning away a first over challenge from Duneside Art in the lane, the son of Sportsmaster-Dixiegirl proceeded to draw away from her rivals for her second win in 10 lifetime appearances. One Sure Apache (Mike Oosting) rallied to be second while Fox Valley Van (John De Long) finished third. Duneside Art was fourth.

Next up were sophomore pacing fillies as a total of 18 ladies looked for 10 starting spots in next week’s $173,000 (est.) Grandma Ann Stake.

In the first of two $15,000 elimination tussles, John Carver’s Auniqueaquistion gave the chalk players a thrill as she shook loose from a precarious position in mid-stretch to win by a half-length in 1:53.

Positioned near the front by driver Mike Oosting as the lead changed hands several time through splits of :28.4, :57.4 and 1:26.1, the daughter of Cole Muffler—Shesoluvabull was desperately searching for racing room behind a tiring leader as the field turned for the money.

Maneuvering outside then back inside again with the Donna Lee Ozment-trained miss, Oosting finally secured racing room with just less than a sixteenth of a mile to go. Responding beautifully, Auniqueaquistion bulled her way to the front and steadily began to draw clear for her 12th win in 21 career starts. Schmatie (John De Long) finished a game second while Aliyah Maria (Dave Magee) was third. Dune In Red and State Street Liz also gained spots in the final.

In the second elimination Paula Smith, James Runyan and Frank Pike’s Dallas Jones continued an amazing second season transformation as she came flying home to win by one and three-quarters lengths in 1:53.1.

Well-handled by a red-hot Casey Leonard, the daughter of Sportsmaster—Cams Bett was reserved through the early stages as Feel Like Dancing (Kyle Wilfong) and Mystical Danica (Marcus Miller) battled through splits of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:24.4. Tipping four-deep as the ladies turned for home, the Joel Smith-trained miss then picked off one rival after another on her way to her eighth win of the season. Mystical Danica held on for second while Thank You Doc (Mike Oosting) rallied sharply to finish third. Feel Like Dancing was fourth while Fox Valley Isabella was fifth.

A total of 17 sophomore pacing colts were dropped into the box for a pair of $15,000 Pete Langley Memorial eliminations. Once again the top five will be back on Super Night to go for an estimated purse of $173,000.

The first division provided a thrilling finish as Paymaq Racing, D&M Trading and Mystical Marker Farms' Mystical Walter emerged with a hard fought three-quarters of a length victory in 1:51.

Confidently handled by driver Casey Leonard, the gelded son of Yankee Skyscaper—Yankee Blue ranged up first over to engage Crankin It Up (Kyle Wilfong) after watching that rival post splits of :27.3, :56.0 and 1:23.3.

After battling head and head through the lane, Mystical Walter finally began to pull clear in the final 100 yards, notching his 10th career win in 20 starts for trainer Erv Miller. Crankin It Up was a sharp second while Alequash Hotspur (Dale Hiteman) finished third. Fox Valley Norman was fourth while Big Brad was fifth.

In the second Langley elimination Stephanie Winship, Carl Lacy, Amy Giberson and Monty Thompson’s Silver Devil parlayed a perfect pocket-sitting trip into a one and three-quarter length victory in 1:52.2.

Riding along in the pocket while Monopoly Man (John De Long) strolled through splits of :28, :57.3 and 1:25.1, driver Casey Leonard patiently waited for the passing lane to make his move with the Nick Giberson trainee. Swinging down to the inside with a sixteenth to go, the roan son of Duneside Perch—Armbro Wahine came charging home in :26.4 to secure his seventh win in this his first season of action. Monopoly Man held on well to finish second while Ready (Brian Carpenter) used a pylon skimming journey to get the show dough. Fancy Creek Elusiv was fourth while Fox Valley Action was fifth.

With a total of 21 three-year-olds and up entered for the Tony Maurello Stake a trio of $15,000 elimination’s were needed. Once again the top three along with a fourth-place finisher (drawn by lot) will be back for next week’s $125,000 final.

In the first elimination Stevanna Turner’s NJs Big Deal rallied in the final strides to win by a head in 1:50.1 for driver Mike Cox.

After leading the way through an opening quarter in :28.1, Cox elected to let a hard charging Uncle Smoothie (John De Long) go, winding up in the three-hole as the field sped through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23. The John Fletcher trainee was then moved to the outside at the top of the stretch where he gamely wore down Ice Scraper (Kyle Husted) and Uncle Smoothie (John De Long) for his 11th win of the year. Whirlwindiplomacy was fourth

The middle elimination provided no surprises as heavily favoured Fort Silky cruised to an easy one and three-quarter length victory in 1:51.1 for owners John Prentice and Neva Jane Ikeler.

Sent to the front by driver Casey Leonard after a quarter in :27, the seven-year-old gelding then went unchallenged through middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24.3. Setting sail for home, the Terry Leonard trainee sealed the deal in fine fashion, rattling off a final quarter in :26.3 to notch his 12th win of the year. Cole Heat (John De Long) finished second while Fox Valley Yukon (Marcus Miller) was third. Uncle Bud finished fourth.

Chalk players were dancing again in the final Maurello elimination as Paymaq Racing, Mystical Marker Farms, Ken Duffy and Shim Racing’s A Cool Card notched his fourth straight win rolling to a one-length decision in 1:50.4 with Marcus Miller in tow.

Working out a perfect second over trip as Kings Legend (Todd Warren) put up splits of :27.3, :56 and 1:23.4, A Cool Card tipped three-wide off his cover as the field straightened for home. The Erv Miller trainee then stormed home in a wicked :26.2 to record his sixth win in 10 starts this year. Iam Bonasera (Kyle Wilfong) finished a hard-knocking second while Gibbs (Dave Magee) rallied to be third. Sports Fanatic wound up fourth.

Freshman pacing fillies closed out the elimination action with a total of 20 youngsters battling in a pair of $15,000 Filly Orange & Blue elimination’s. The top five in each will return on Super Night to slug it out for a $200,000 jackpot.

In the first elimination, Team Miller clicked once again as Marcus (two wins) made a successful return to the local scene guiding Obermeier & Quaid Stable’s (two wins) My Little Bit to an easy one-length triumph in 1:54.1, giving his father Erv, his fourth training win of the night.

Powering to the front after an opening quarter in :28.1, the daughter of Sportsmaster-Parade Of Love rattled off middle splits of :58.1 and 1:26.1. With plenty still in reserve the good looking filly paced home in :28 to win for the fourth time in eight lifetime starts. Party Hangover Two (John De Long) was second while Thesleazyprincess (Mike Oosting) was third. Fox Valley Amanda was fourth while Simplyirresistible was fifth.

In the second division, Sawgrass Farms' Molly Go Lightly took advantage of a ground-saving trip as she charged up the passing lane to win by a half-length in 1:55.

Perfectly handled by Mike Oosting (three wins), the daughter of Lexington Legend-Waggle was forwardly placed while skimming the pylons through splits of :29, :58.3 and 1:27.3. With the fillies fanning out for the stretch drive, Oosting moved the Nelson Willis trainee up the inside where she rallied gamely for her second win in eight trips postward. Kiwi Party (John De Long) overcame post nine to be the bridesmaid while Mae Flynn (Dave Magee) was third. Tessa finished a hard fought fourth while M A Refling overcame a miscue at the start to finish fifth.

The elimination action for Super Night continues on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Balmoral Park as a trio of Lorna Propes Stake elimination’s (three-year-old and up filly and mare pacers), a pair of Su Mac Lad Stake elimination’s (three-year-old trotting colts) and one Lady Ann Reed (three-year-old trotting filly) will all be contested. Post time on Sunday is 7:10 p.m. (central).

(Balmoral Park)