A full field of 10 Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing fillies lined up behind the gate for the Sunday, July 3 headliner at Balmoral Park: the $9,000 Crestwood OTB Stakes.
Providing the fireworks in the dash, the Mike Brink, R.D. Poppleton and David Carter-owned Just By Design came up with the perfect game plan. The roan filly rolled to a one and three-quarter-length front-stepping score in 1:53.4 to take home top honours.
Leaving from Post 4 for driver Kyle Wilfong, the daughter of Sportsmaster,-Rock N Roan floated up on the outside and was parked through an opening quarter in :28.2 as Primrose Path (driven by Brian Carpenter) showed the way.
Sweeping by that rival just after the opening panel, the Mike Brink trainee assumed command of the proceedings as the field raced by the half-mile station in :58.
Cruising along confidently on the front end, Just By Design was still comfortably in front as a Little Maeve (Ridge Warren), the even-money choice in the race, came calling first over as the ladies reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.3.
Holding firm as the fillies moved through the lane, Just By Design turned back the challenge of Little Maeve in the stretch and continued on her journey to the finish line. Putting up a :27.1 final split, Just By Design was comfortably in front as she rolled under the wire with her second win from six starts this season. Little Maeve was forced to settle for second while Primrose Path held on for third.
A three-time winner during her two-year-old season, Just By Design now boasts five career wins, three second-place finishes and four third-place performances in 20 career starts.
Overlooked in the wagering despite her consistency, Just By Design returned $22.40, $10.00 and $6.20 across the board.
(Balmoral)