The Illinois-conceived and foaled stakes action continued last night at Balmoral Park, as a field of six pacing fillies squared off in the $9,000 Direct Balance Stakes for three-year-olds
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Using the inside starting spot to perfection, Redhot Hart and driver-trainer Mike Brink saved ground throughout the opening half-mile, then swept to the top on the far turn in route to an easy one and a quarter-length victory in a lifetime best of 1:57.1.
Janet Rose (driven by Marcus Miller) finished second, but was disqualified and placed fifth. That moved Fox Valley Sedona (Lavern Hostetler) from third to second and Miltys Gal (Kyle Wilfong) from fourth into the show spot.
Redhot Hart, a daughter of Sportsmaster--Red To Richess, had just one qualifier under her belt as she headed into her 2011 debut last night, but she looked fit as a fiddle as she scored for the second time in seven lifetime starts for owners Donna Crebs and Judy Conzo.
Sent off as the third choice in the evenly-matched group, Redhot Hart returned $7.60, $3.40 and $3.00 across the board.
(With files from Balmoral)