The stakes action rolled on at Balmoral Park on Saturday night as a total of 21 Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing colts squared off
in a trio of Cardinal Stake eliminations. The top three finishers in each of these $7,500 events along with one fourth-place finisher (drawn by lot) will return for next Saturday’s $56,700 final.
In the first division Shirley LeVin’s Park Lane Deputy continued his impressive start to the 2009 season as he recorded a half-length victory in 1:52 for driver Dale Hiteman. The son of Sportsmaster - Darling Katherine scooted to front after watching My Boy Luke roll through an opening quarter in 28.
The issue was never in doubt from that point on as the Homer Hochstetler trained colt put up splits of :56.2 and 1:25.2 before sealing the deal with a wicked :26.3 final quarter. My Boy Luke held on for second while Jamboree was third and Fox Valley Seth was fourth.
The win was the sixth in seven starts this year for Park Lane Deputy, was sent off as the 2/5 favourite.
In the middle split Shelly Graham’s Henry Gram finally got things turned around as he strolled home with an eye catching five-length triumph in a career best of 1:51. Despite not hitting the board in his first five starts this year driver Todd Warren put this homebred son of Henry Clay - Lexie Gram on the front end after Filthy Rich put up an opening quarter of :28.2.
Blowing right by the pacesetter on the backside Henry Gram continued to increase the leading margin at every call as he clicked off splits of :56.1 and 1:24.3 before capping it off with a :26.2 final quarter while on cruise control. Grandma Jans Max rallied to be second while Filthy Rich held on for third. Fox Valley Azure was fourth.
It was the first win of the season in six attempts for Henry Gram, who went 7-for-18 in his rookie campaign.
The final elimination also produced a minor upset as Kim & Michael Neal’s Sandbar Slugger rallied in the final strides to win by a head in a career best of 1:53.
Brandon Simpson kept Sandbar Slugger well off the early pace while favoured Fox Valley Slammer and Rich N Flashy battled through splits of :26.3, :56.3 and 1:25.2. Simpson worked out a second over trip for the son of Sportsmaster - Rembrandt Arlene, who tipped off cover turning for home and picked off the pacesetters in the final strides. He charged home in :26.4 to win over Smellthecolornine and Sponzo Brotka. Timewell was fourth.
The victory was just the third in 28 lifetime starts for the Homer Hochstetler trainee, who was sent off at odds of 5-1.
The Saturday night Free-For-All produced the fastest mile of the year here at Balmoral Park as Andrea Hill’s Jeremys Successor won for the second straight week, this time stopping the clock in a lifetime best of 1:49.
Given a confident steer after starting from the inside spot in the field of six driver Tyler Buter ripped through splits of :27.2, :55.1 and 1:22.3 then kept his rivals at bay with a :26.2 final quarter to get the job done. Special Joe was second while Well To Do Guru finished third.
The win was the fourth in eight starts for the five-year-old Dean Eckley trained gelding who now boasts over $110,000 in career earnings.
(Balmoral Park)