After three very competitive rounds of preliminary action, a field of 10 two and three-year-old Illinois conceived and foaled pacing fillies were sent postward in Wednesday’s $7,000 Incredible Finale Series Finalat Balmoral Park
. After posting back-to-back wins and then skipping last week’s action Eligio Boccia’s Dee Dee Sage finished out the series in perfect fashion as she scored by a hard fought neck in 1:56.4.
Confidently handled by driver Del Chupp, the daughter of Sagebrush-Dee Dee The Clown came away fifth as longshot Ascot Courage and Fox Valley Katrina battled for early control through splits of :28.3 and :57.1.
Moving up first over as the field headed around the turn, Chupp and Dee Dee Sage had moved up to third, just two-lengths behind the pacesetting Fox Valley Katrina as the field moved by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.
Through the lane a determined Dee Dee Sage quickly swept by the early leaders as she braced for an upcoming challenge from Kennans Ethel (Mike Oosting), who had followed her cover to the top of the lane.
Showing once again that she’s been blessed with the same type of toughness that her sire showed week in and week out, Dee Dee Sage repelled the challenge of Kennans Ethel, finally drawing clear in the final strides to pick up her fourth win in 18 lifetime starts. Kennans Ethel was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Reillys Daughter (Marcus Miller) shook loose late along the inside and rallied to be third.
Sent off as a slight favourite in the wide-open race, Dee Dee Sage returned $6.60, $4.60 and $3.40 while pushing her lifetime earnings over the $15,000 mark.
(Balmoral Park)