After a busy Saturday night of elimination action for next weekend’s Southland Festival of Racing, the countdown to the big weekend continued yesterday at Balmoral Park, as three more eliminations for state-bred pacers were on tap.
The first elimination of the night featured Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-old trotting fillies, as a field of 10 was sent postward looking for spots in next week’s $44,000 Fox Valley Evita Stakes.
As was the case on Saturday night when he posted four elimination tallies, leading driver Mike Oosting continued to drive with a hot hand as he guided Trenton and Brenda Watson’s Merry High to a one-length victory in 1:57.2.
Powerful Bella (Marcus Miller) turned a ground-saving trip into a second-place finish, while a pocket-sitting Claires Rose (Dave Magee) wound up third. Also gaining spots in the final were Fox Valley Click, Fox Valley Ripple, Southern Maebelle, St. Louis Holiday, Vapor Girl and Fox Valley Sienna. KFs Picture Perfect was given a bye to the final on a money-earned basis.
Next up were sophomore pacing fillies, as a field of 10 looked for seven openings in next week’s $56,000 Ann Vonian Stakes final where they will be joined by leading money winners Cotton Candy, Fox Valley Dazzle and Fox Valley Oracle.
Taking home the top honors in the tussle was the Ervin Miller-trained Mystical Victress, who wound up making every call a winning one before stopping the clock in 1:53.3. Rolldownthehiway was a game second while Ribbons N Pearls (Dave Magee) overcame some late traffic problems to grab the show dough. Also moving on to the final were Fox Valley Angie, Ellamakailey, Leanmean Normajean and Cole Blue.
The final elimination of the night featured three-year-old trotting colts as a field of 10 looked for seven open spots in next week’s $46,000 Kadabra Stakes. Muscatine unleashed a big closing kick to win by a length in a career best of 1:55. Powerful Speed (Todd Warren) came from far back to rally for the place spot while Big Bucks (Casey Leonard), who was dead last at the top of the stretch, rallied to be third.
Super Sonic Flash, Run And Tell Pap, Dutch Commander and Somore Set also gained spots in next week’s final.
(With files from Balmoral)