Balmoral fans got a sneak peek at some of this year’s two-year-old pacing crop in the Prairie State on Wednesday night as a field of eight youngsters went postward in the $6,000 Egyptian Grande Stake.
Fresh off an impressive win in the second of two qualifying efforts, the Mike Einhaus-owned Dune In Red posted an impressive five and a quarter length romp in a national season's best of 1:55.2 with Mike Oosting at the controls.
Hustled away from post position seven the chestnut daughter of Duneside Perch-She Has The Look landed in third as Special Rose (John Roberts) led the field through an opening quarter in :29.2.
Looking like a seasoned veteran, Oosting then maneuvered his filly to the outside where she quickly shot to the top leading the field through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1 while beginning to put distance between herself the rest of the field.
With nothing but open ground in front of her, Dune In Red then flew home in a strong :27.1 to seal the deal on an eye-catching debut. Incredible Filly (Dave Magee) turned a ground saving trip into a second place cheque while Special Rose finished third.
From the first crop of Duneside Perch, the Robert Einhaus-trained miss was a $7,700 yearling purchase and judging by her effort on Wednesday night that price looks like it may have been quite a bargain.
(Balmoral Park)