Freshmen pacing colts kicked off Saturday’s stake action at Balmoral Park as a total of 16 youngsters were dropped in the box for the Wicked Brew Stake. Thus a pair of $5,000 divisions were carded by Racing Secretary Doc Narotsky.
The opening split went as race two on the 12-race program and the “chalk players” never broke a sweat in this one as Nicole Potts’ Royale Rose, the winner of last week’s Bingo Johnnie Stake in his career debut, cruised to a two-length victory in a career best of 1:55.1 for driver Brian Carpenter.
Hustled right to the front from post eight, the gelded son of Ashlees Big Guy—Caribe Royale rattled off splits of :29, :59 and 1:27.4 while going along unchallenged on the engine. Despite racing greenly and getting out a bit at the half and again through the lane, the Lyle Scurlock trainee sped home in :27.2 to remain perfect in his young career. My Man Red (Mike Oosting) rallied to finish second Silver Sage (Kyle Wilfong) came through along the pylons to get the show dough.
The 3-5 favourite despite having the outside post, Royale Rose returned $3.40, $2.10 and $2.10 while running his career earnings up to $4,500.
Brian Carpenter made it a clean sweep in the second division of the Wicked Brew guiding first-time starter BS Tyrrific to a hard-fought neck decision in a snappy 1:55.4.
Zipped away from post position seven, the Christine Buttice trainee was parked through an opening quarter in :29.2 while making his way to the front. In control of things as the field moved onto the backside, the son of Richess Hanover—Fox Valley Tyra put up middle splits of :58 and 1:27.2 while cruising along on the lead.
Holding sway through the lane, a game BS Tyrrific had just enough left in the tank to hold off the pocket sitting Sagebrush Sam (Kyle Husted) and a fast-closing Red Red Redneck (Todd Warren).
Coming off a pair of winning qualifiers, BS Tyrrific was heavily backed at the betting windows returning just $2.80, $2.20 and $2.20 while opening his career on a winning note for the partnership of Robert, Jeremy & Louis Buttice and Frank Santilli.
Fillies and mares were also in action on Saturday night as a field of eight assembled for the $14,000 Sue Fee Stake. Once again the favourite had problems in here as John Barnard’s Ryleighs Lilly came flying down the lane to notch her second straight Balmoral Park score, winning by one and a half lengths in 1:52.4 for Casey Leonard.
Ducked off the gate as Rev Me Up (Ryan Anderson) led the field through early splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.3, Leonard picked up live cover approaching the half-mile mark and quickly moved into contention around the bend, looming boldly in a second-over position while sitting third as the field straightened for the money.
As she’s done so often in recent years, the five-year-old daughter of Western Hero—Fox Valley Chosen uncorked a wicked :27 final quarter as she blew by her rivals to notch her fifth win of the season for trainer Bill Crone. A pair of longshots rounded out the trifecta in this tussle as 17-1 shot Joyful Game (Ridge Warren) flew home in :26.2 to be the bridesmaid while 54-1 outsider Fox Valley Aubrey (Robert Smolin) rallied to be third.
Bet as though defeat was out of the question, the 1-5 favourite returned $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10 while upping her lifetime record to 16-10-14 in 77 trips postward with earnings of $121,399.
The state-bred stake action really heats up on Sunday, June 21 with a trio of events for the youngsters. Freshmen trotting fillies will get the action underway in a non-wagering test as a field of five battle in the Star Slinger Stake which will go at 6:45 p.m. (central). Their male counterparts will start the regular program with a field of seven diagonally gaited colts squaring off in the Million Dollar Bye Stake.
With a total of 14 two-year-old pacing fillies entered for the Incredible Tillie Stake the youngsters have been split into two divisions which will go as races four and five and finally ICF sophomore trotting fillies will close out the action as a field of seven are scheduled to face the gate for the Xpressbet Stake which will go as race six on the 10-race program. Once again the wagering action gets underway at 7:10 p.m. on Sunday night.
(with files from Balmoral)