Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old trotting fillies were the featured attraction on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a field of 10 squared off looking for starting spots in next week’s $55,000 Fox Valley Flan Stake Final
. The top eight finishers from Wednesday’s elimination will join Fox Valley Lexus and Muscle My Way in next week’s encounter.
Coming off a tough loss as the even money favourite in the Vaporize Stake in her career debut, Redbud Stable and James Eaton’s Fox Valley Velvet was as smooth as silk as she cruised to a one and a half length victory in 2:02.
Given a perfect steer by Marcus Miller, the daughter of Vaporize-Vics Flag landed in the garden spot as Chandler T (Kyle Wilfong) cruised through splits :31.1 and 1:01.3.
Heading around the far turn, a hard charging Rubys And Pearls (Rick Schrock) came up alongside Chandler T and the two were just heads apart as they moved by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:31.4.
Through the lane a patient Miller maneuvered Fox Valley Velvet to the inside where she quickly engaged Rubys And Pearls, who had overtaken the pacesetting Chandler T at the top of the lane. Quickly moving by her rivals on the inside, Fox Valley Velvet seemed to find another gear as she charged right by Rubys And Pearls to notch her first career victory for trainer Jim Eaton. Wallstreet Darling (Dale Hiteman), who was locked in for most of the mile, shook loose late and rallied to be the bridesmaid while Rubys And Pearls finished third.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering Fox Valley Velvet returned $6.20, $2.80 and $2.10.
(Balmoral Park)