Balmoral Park's first trotting stakes of the 2013 season was contested on Sunday, April 14, and, when the smoke cleared, it was the Dane May-owned and trained Sara The Spy who took home top honours, winning the $12,000 Trotting Tilly Stakes by a diminishing neck in 1:59.3.
Handled by driver Dean Magee, the daughter of Powerful Emotion-Sarabella was allowed to settle at the back of the pack after making a slight miscue leaving the gate. The bay filly then rushed by her four rivals after a slow opening quarter of :31.2 and was in control of the proceedings as she led the field through a half-mile in 1:00.3.
Heading around the far turn, the Lady Lincoln Land consolation runner-up began to put some daylight between herself and the rest of the field, as she rolled by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:29.3.
After opening up a three and a half-length margin at the mid-stretch call, Sara The Spy then dug in gamely to hold off the late charge of Powerful Goddess (driven by Mike Cox) for her first lifetime victory. Powerful Goddess was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role, while American Empress (Homer Hochstetler) finished third, two and a quarter-lengths behind.
The winner returned $6.60, $4.20 and $2.80 while posting her first win in nine tries.
(Balmoral)