It was a longshot lovers delight in Sunday’s $12,000 Direct Dottie Stakes at Balmoral Park, as 65-1 outsider Fox Valley Smooch rallied from eighth to first in the final quarter-mile to win by one and three-quarter lengths in a career best of 1:53.2.
Fox Valley Smooch appeared to be hopelessly out of it as Merced (driven by Travis Seekman) and Shes A Pegase (Tyler Buter) battled it out up front through wicked splits recorded in :27.1, :54.1 and 1:23.3. As the field turned for home, Fox Valley Smooch took advantage of the fast fractions and circled rivals.
The daughter of Richess Hanover--Fox Valley Passion uncorked a :28.3 final quarter for driver Robert Smolin while the rest of the leg weary field staggered home. Fox Valley Smooch picked off one filly after another as she flew home for her second victory of the season.
Matts Wolfey (Dave Magee) shook loose late after getting trapped on the pylons to finish second, while Richs Emily Grace (Dean Magee), who provided live cover for the winner, finished third.
The victory was the third lifetime win in 22 starts for the Mike Schulfer-trained miss.
Dispatched as the second longest shot on the board, Fox Valley Smooch returned $133.00, $36.80 and $12.40. Combined with double-digit-priced horses behind her, the winning exacta combination of 8-1 returned a whopping $916.40, while the trifecta combination of 8-1-7 returned $7,223.00.
The 10 cent Superfecta of 8-1-7-3 was worth a healthy $1,482.98.
(With files from Balmoral)