Division leader Fox Valley Lover continued her incredible start to the 2009 racing season on Tuesday night at Balmoral Park as she came flying down the lane to capture the $12,000 Sorce Ann Stake by a neck in a lifetime best of 1:55
.
Showing supreme confidence in this three-year-old daughter of Vaporize-Love You More regular pilot Dale Hiteman was content to stay glued to the pylons near the back of the pack as longshots Matilda Coe (Todd Warren) and Tropical Caprice (Dave Magee) raced 1-2 on the lead through splits of :28 and :57.1.
Heading around the far turn a first over Queen Creek (Dean Magee) moved into third while a dangerous Overt (Josh Sutton) began ranging up while second over into fourth. Hiteman then maneuvered his filly to the outside but things still did not look very promising as she tried to move up fourth over from seventh with only Fox Valley Vickie (Brandon Simpson) and Lekka (Rick Dane Jr.), who had both made breaks behind the starting gate, behind her.
Powering around rivals while four wide Fox Valley Lover was 6 1/2 lengths behind the pacesetting Matilda Coe as the field hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.3.
Through the stretch disaster struck for Queen Creek as she took herself out of contention with a costly miscue. Matilda Coe was still all out while clinging to a short advantage while Overt and D Lee More (Marcus Miller) moved alongside to challenge. On the far outside of horses and looking like she was in no hurry at all Fox Valley Lover was methodically picking off rivals for Hiteman. Flying home in a wicked :27.1 the Joel Smith trainee managed to get her neck in front of D Lee More just steps from the wire to record a well measured victory. D Lee More was a heartbreaking second while Tropical Caprice was another 6 1/4 lengths back in third.
After hitting the board in 10 of 14 starts last year while chasing Miss Vickie for most of the season Fox Valley Lover has turned the tables on her rival this season taking six of her first seven starts while adding another $61,085 to her bankroll for owners James Runyan and Paula Smith. The second choice in the wagering returned $5.80, $3.20 and $2.60.
(Balmoral Park)