State-bred trotting colts were back in the spotlight on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a field of seven two-year-olds met in the $14,200 Normal OTB Stake. Coming off back-to-back romps over the Balmoral surface, Fox Valley Standardbreds and Harold & Joshua Carter’s Vaporstar continued his late season dominance
as he strolled to a six and a quarter length victory in 2:00 with driver Mike Oosting at the controls.
Bet the near exclusion of his rivals the gelded son of Vaporize-Starlicious floated away in fourth as Star On Ice (John De Long) showed the way through an opening quarter in :29.
Boldly moving up first over on the outside of horses, Oosting had Vaporstar in high gear and was up to stick a neck in front as the field reached the halfway point in :59.3.
The outcome was never in doubt from that point on as the Mike Brink trainee stretched the lead to two-lengths while trotting by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:29.4.
On cruise control the rest of the way, the long striding bay continued to widen his advantage leaving his rivals in his wake as he cruised under the wire with his third win in nine lifetime starts. Tuff Guy JJ (Eric Carlson) rallied late to finish second while Victor B (Art Gregory Jr.) took home the show dough.
Bet down to a staggering 1-9, Vaporstar returned just $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 while running his career bankroll up to $97,046.
(Balmoral Park)