State-bred trotters and pacers shared the spotlight on Sunday, October 21 at Balmoral Park as a trio of stakes events provided plenty of action from start to finish on the 11-race program.
The action kicked off with a non-wagering event prior to the start of the regularly scheduled card as a field of 10 two-year-old trotting fillies squared off in a $10,000 Violet Stake elimination. The top nine finishers will return next week along with division leader Trot Fudge Sundae for the $46,500 final.
Proving once again that she will be a formidable challenger for the top filly in next week’s final, Robert and Donnie Taylor’s Little Ms Chrissy overpowered nine rivals on Sunday night, cruising to a three and a quarter-length victory in 2:00.3 for driver-trainer Robert Taylor. Divination (driven by Marcus Miller) turned a ground-saving trip into a second-place finish, while Powerful Goddess (Mike Cox) was third. Also gaining spots in the final were Sara The Spy, Fox Valley Natasha, Elegant Rosie, Close Call Emotion and Just For Fun.
Sophomore trotters were next on the docket, as a compact field of six diagonally gaited three-year-old colts were sent to battle in the $12,600 Betzotic Stakes.
This test looked more like a stroll in the park for Fox Valley Standardbreds and Harold and Joshua Carter’s Vaporstar, as he zipped right to the front and proceeded to make every call a winning one. He reported home with a two and a half-length score in 1:57.1 for driver Dave Magee. Fox Valley Steffen (Dale Hiteman) finished second, while Diamond Joe (John De Long) finished a distant third, seven-lengths behind the winner. Heavily-favoured Riccolo struggled right from the start and wound up last in the field, 27 lengths behind the winner.
The final stakes battle of the night featured a field of 10 two-year-old pacing fillies battling in the $13,000 Beecher Stakes.
Once again, John Carver’s Auniqueaquistion proved that she’s one of the top fillies in the division, as she overcame a tough trip to win by a widening one and a quarter lengths in 1:55.2 for driver Mike Oosting. The Bruzilian Blur (Brian Carpenter) was a hard fought second while Thank You Doc (Marcus Miller) rallied for the show dough.
(With files from Balmoral Park)