Illinois conceived and foaled trotters were back in the spotlight on Wednesday night with a pair of stakes highlighting the nine-race card.
Freshmen fillies had the chance to grab their biggest payday of the year for the state-bred set as a field of nine went postward in the $90,000 Lady Lincoln Land Stake while a compact field of six sophomore trotting fillies gathered in a $10,100 Betzotic Stake to start the Wednesday night action.
The Betzotic proved to be a walk in the park for Super Night winner Baileys Wish as the pride of owners Jim Bafia and Eugene White demolished her rivals with a seven and a half length score in 1:57.3 for driver Dave Magee.
Sent to the front by Magee after an opening quarter in :29, the daughter of Southwind Breeze—Jen made the top easily and was unchallenged through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.3.
Quickly putting daylight between herself and the rest of the field, the Dirk Simpson-trained miss left her rivals in her wake as she cruised under the wire with her fifth win in 13 starts this season. Bands Alexis (Todd Warren) rallied late to finish second while Say No Mo (John De Long) was third. Even-money co-favourite Macie Rae made a break in the lane and finished last in the field of six.
Baileys Wish returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20 while upping her career record to 10-8-3 in 27 starts with earnings of $243,938.
With the scratch of last week’s elimination winner Jazzie Mermaid (injured), the Lady Lincoln Land looked like it would be a showdown between Fox Valley Yoko and Persuasive Look. Unfortunately, a break behind the gate took out the latter and the former made a break while challenging in deep stretch allowing a game Bi Polar Rose to post a front-stepping half-length victory in 1:59.3 for Travis Seekman.
Confidently handled by Seekman, the daughter of Polar Winner—I Still Owe trotted right to the top from post five, putting up leisurely splits of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:29 while cruising along unchallenged.
In the lane, the Ronnie Roberts-trained miss dug in gamely, turning back a “passing lane” challenge from 29-1 longshot Fox Valley Harrah (Kyle Wilfong), who had enjoyed a perfect pocket sitting trip, while also keeping Fox Valley Yoko (John De Long) at bay to notch her third win in eight tries. Fox Valley Harrah was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Fox Valley Yoko did well to salvage a third place finish after the miscue.
Sent off at 7-2 by the betting public, Bi Polar Rose returned $9.20, $4.00 and $3.00 while running her record to 3-2-1 in eight starts with earnings of $60,515 for owners Cynthia Demarlie and Jason Van Winkle.
(Balmoral Park)