Sophomore pacing colts took center stage on a cold and rainy night Saturday at Balmoral Park as a field of seven Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-olds battled in the $12,300 Bye Bye Byrd Stake
. Taking to the wet conditions like a duck to water Engel Stable and Rucker Stables' Fox Valley Escort went flying by his rivals in the late going to win by a half-length in 1:54.4 over the sloppy track.
Saving ground throughout the mile as Indescribable (Marcus Miller) rolled through splits of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1, driver Dave Magee finally maneuvered Fox Valley Escort to the outside of horses with an eighth of a mile to go in the race.
Chewing up ground while the rest of the field struggled to get home in the slop, the son of Sportsmaster-Theladyappealstome uncorked a :27.3 final split to reel in a game Indescribable for his fourth win in 21 starts this season. The Paul Stafford trainee has now earned more than $32,000 this season. Indescribable held on for second while JHS (Mike Oosting) rallied from far back to finish third.
The state-bred stakes action continues on Sunday night at Balmoral Park as a field of 10 three-year-old pacing fillies will battle in the $12,500 Direct Dottie Stake which has been carded as race nine on the 12-race program. First post time on Sunday is 6:30 p.m. (central).
(Balmoral Park)