Fox Valley Groupie has found her groove.
One of the featured events on the Thursday, June 11 program at Running Aces was the $17,361 Burning Blaze Pacing Series final and heavy favourite Fox Valley Groupie did not disappoint her backers as she turned in another stellar performance to complete the series sweep and advance to five-for-five on the season.
The very sharp daughter of Somestarsomewhere was put into action immediately by driver Dean Magee and had to work hard during the opening quarter to win an early tussle with Ulla Law (Nick Roland), making the top just after the timer flashed :27 while Lemmiwinks (Josiah Miller) tracked along in third.
Magee rated the second panel to 29 seconds and Fox Valley Groupie settled into a nice rhythm down the backstrech with Ulla Law keeping close tabs in the pocket and both Lemmiwinks and Go Till Midnight (Scott Cisco) trying a third-quarter bid.
As they swung for home, Fox Valley Groupie kept to her task and Ulla Law tipped out for the drive but Fox Valley Groupie fought gamely to the wire and held Ulla Law at bay by three-quarters of a length, stopping the timer at 1:52.4. Go Till Midnight was clearly third best.
Fox Valley Groupie is owned by Illinois-based Hart Walker and Jim Ballinger and is trained by Brett Ballinger. The winner now shows 10 career wins from 35 outings and has earned $124,898 to date. She paid $2.60 to win.
Premier Desirey dazzled in the $20,833 Mares Open Pace for her third straight win, powering to a 2-3/4 length tally in a career best 1:51.1 with Rick Magee in the bike. Race favourite K T Part E (Brady Jenson) was home second and Twist Little Girl N (Roland) rounded out the top three.
The winning daughter of Real Desire is owned and trained by Harold Herrera. She returned $12.60 for every $2 win bet.
Cool Mr Cool delivered another huge performance for driver Casey Leonard in the $23,611 Minnesota-sired sophomore colts 'A' pace for two in a row and a new lifetime mark in 1:52.4 over Wild About Me (Roland) and Whatevrittakes Two (Dean Magee).
Cool Mr Cool ($2.20) is owned by Kyle Larner, Jay De Long and Terry Knothe and is trained by Justin Anfinson.
Starstruck Fool ($3.60) and driver Scott Cisco turned the tables on chief rivals Letitia (Dean Magee) to post the pacer's second win of the season in the $23,611 filly pace with a three-quarter length tally in 1:55.1. Letitia was second best this week and big longshot Prone To Wander (Rick Magee) picked up third.
The winner is a daughter of Karpathian Kid, owned by Jeri and Briar Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.
Bright Path ($6.80) made it two in a row in the $11,806 sophomore 'B' pace in a career best 1:56.2 mile with Nick Roland at the controls over Sd Babysharkdoodoo (Brian Detgen) and Al Mar Easy Doesit (Rick Magee).
The Justin Anfinson-trainer winner is by Wind Me Up and is owned by Cathy Dessert.
Drivers Nick Roland and Dean Magee led the Thursday program with doubles while trainers Justin Anfinson and Harold Herrera also posted doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday, June 14 with a 10-race program that offers a pair of carryovers including $1,023.79 for the race four Hi-5 wager and $13,544.02 for the Pick-5 Jackpot wager which starts in race six. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)