Illinois conceived and foaled trotters hit the track on Wednesday, July 11 at Balmoral Park as a total of 14 youngsters were sent to battle in a pair of $5,000 Psychic Spirit Stake splits, which were contested as non-wagering events before the start of the regular program.
In the first division, Ronald Knupp’s Master Of Excuses kept a perfect record intact as he notched his fourth win in as many tries, scoring by four and a half lengths in 1:59.3.
Sent right to the front by driver-trainer Ronnie Gillespie, the gelded son of Powerful Emotion-Victory Blade trotted through splits of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:30.4 while maintaining an open length advantage over his six rivals.
With plenty left in reserve, the bay gelding was on cruise control through the stretch while in hand to his pilot. King Mufasa (Dale Hiteman) rallied to finish second while Powerful Mel (Mike Cox) finished third despite racing a bit greenly in his first career start.
In the nightcap, Stanley Miller’s Lightning Too made it look easy as he stormed to front and turned the festivities into a laugher as he reported home with a seven length triumph in 1:58.1 for driver Brian Carpenter.
The winner of the Million Dollar Bye Stake in his only other career start, Lightning Too cruised through splits of :30.3, 1:00.2 and 1:30.0 while maintaining an easy lead.
Letting it out a notch in the lane, the Angie Affrunti-trained son of Thundercrack-Fox Valley Melanie rattled off a :28.1 final quarter while widening his advantage all the way to the wire. Fox Valley Camo (Jamaica Patton) finished second while Powerful Poe (Todd Warren) was third.
Fans will want to be in attendance for live racing on Saturday, July 14 as Balmoral Park and the USTA present Back To The Track 2012. In addition to great giveaways, drawings, hay rides, food and drink specials and live music there will be some great racing on tap as the first eight races on the card are all divisions of Hanover Stakes for two and three-year-old pacers. The ninth race of the night on the 13-race card is a $17,000 Invitational. Don’t forget that the guarantee on Saturday’s Pick 4 pool has now been upped to $25,000 giving fans a big chance to take home a pocketful of money over the last four races of the night. All the action gets underway at 7:10 p.m. (central).
(Balmoral Park)