Sophomore trotting colts took center stage last night at Balmoral Park, as a total of 14 diagonally-gaited state-breds met in a pair of $14,455 Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association Stakes splits.
The first division went exactly as it figured to, with Connie Hochstetler and Bruce and Dean Alexander’s Dr McDreamy overwhelming his rivals as he rolled to a six and a quarter-length victory in 1:55.
Sent right to the front from Post 3 by driver-trainer Homer Hochstetler, the son of American Native--Colors Of The Wind encountered absolutely no resistance as he made his way to the top.
Trotting along comfortably through splits of :29.1, :57.1 and 1:26.3, Dr McDreamy turned for home with a two and a half-length cushion. Effortlessly drawing away from the rest of the field, the colt was on cruise control as he equaled his career best clocking. The Way He Moves (driven by Dave Magee) turned a pocket-sitting trip into a second-place cheque. Samuel Coe (Brandon Simpson) rallied for third.
The win was the third in six starts this season for Dr McDreamy, which also has a pair of second place finishes to his credit. Bet to the near exclusion of his rivals, Dr McDreamy returned $2.20, $2.20 and $2.10.
The nightcap provided a mild upset as G&B Stable of Illinois and Roger Welch’s homebred Welchkin cruised to a four and three-quarter-length triumph in a career best of 1:55.1.
Given the perfect steer by veteran Dale Hiteman, Welchkin guarded early position after leaving from Post 2, while Sago (Todd Warren), Windy Joe (Mike Oosting) and POW (Brian Carpenter) raced three across the track through an opening quarter in :28.3.
Sitting patiently in fourth as POW and Windy Joe continued to battle tooth and nail down the backside, Hiteman had Welchkin just five lengths behind the embattled leaders as the trotters reached the half-mile mark in a brisk :56.2.
Heading around the final turn, a tiring POW made a break leaving Windy Joe alone on the lead. That miscue allowed Hiteman to maneuver his charge off the pylons and a fit and fresh Welchkin came roaring up alongside Windy Joe as they moved by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.1.
Through the lane, Welchkin simply trotted away from his leg-weary rivals, leaving them in his dust as he cruised to his fourth win in 10 starts this season. Shining Armor (Josh Sutton) rallied to finish second, while Windy Joe held on for third.
Unraced as a two-year-old, the son of Valley Victor--Miss Onree now boasts a record of 4-3-0 in 10 starts this year.. Dispatched at odds of 7-1, Welchkin returned $17.20, $6.60 and $3.60.
(With files from Balmoral)