State-bred trotting colts were back in action on Wednesday, May 14 at Balmoral Park as a field of seven diagonally-gaited specialists gathered for a $10,000 Betzotic Stake.
After a tough luck loss in his last appearance, Mike Brink and Loren Tournear’s Tour Hall returned to his winning ways as he “gutted” out a nose decision over Bobby B Breeze in 1:58.1 over a track listed as “good.”
After battling the hard-leaving Bobby B Breeze (Todd Warren) through an opening quarter in :29.3, driver/trainer Brink worked the give and go to perfection, reclaiming the top spot as the field raced by the half-mile mark in 1:00.2.
Continuing to show the way by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:30.1, the gelded son of American Native—Broadway And Fifth set sail for home with Bobby B Breeze sitting right on his back. With his chief rival drilling through in the passing lane, a game Tour Hall dug in with all he had, trotting home in a brisk :28 while just managing to hold Bobby B Breeze at bay. Big Bill Breeze (Nick Prather) finished third, 4-1/2 lengths behind the top pair.
Vin, who came into the race off back-to-back scores and drew plenty of attention at the betting windows as the 3-5 favourite, made a break behind the gate and was never a factor in the race.
Tour Hall now boasts six wins, four seconds and one third in 16 career starts with earnings of $86,301. The winner returned $5.20, $3.40 and $2.20.
(Balmoral Park)