A busy weekend of racing action at Balmoral Park -- which included the USTA’s Back To The Track promotion -- came to a close on Sunday, July 7 with more Illinois-conceived and foaled stakes action providing the fireworks for fans of the sport, both old and new.
Sunday’s action kicked off with a non-wagering event, as a field of six state-bred two-year-old trotting fillies battled in the first of two divisions of the $6,000 Vaporize Stakes.
Taking advantage of a ground-saving trip and a sharp drive by Kyle Wilfong, Robert Phillips and Preston Matson’s Vienna picked up her maiden-breaking score as she reported home with a four and a half-length victory in 2:00.1.
The daughter of Banderas Hall-Talcott Lori saved ground throughout while Say No Mo (driven by Ronnie Gillespie) put up splits of :30.1, 1:01.2 and 1.31.3. Sitting chilly into the lane, Wilfong then maneuvered the Robert Phillips trainee into position and she responded with a :28.2 final quarter to draw away from her rivals. S V Spirit (Todd Warren), who had swept into command in the stretch after a big first-over bid was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role, while Fox Valley Skylar (Dale Hiteman) was a distant third.
In the second division of the Vaporize Stakes, Christine and Robert Buttice’s BS Casino Girl made her career debut a winning one with a resounding nine and a half-length romp in 2:01.3 for driver Phil Knox.
With four of the seven youngsters making breaks and another failing to get to the gate in time, the daughter of Armbro Tropicana—Wyoming Cowgirl trotted right to the front from Post 6. Confidently carving out fractions of :31.2, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1, the Christine Buttice-trained miss opened up a 13 and a half-length lead as the field turned for home. On cruise control the rest of the way, she returned a healthy $20.20 Win mutuel to those lucky enough to back her in her debut. High Balance (Casey Leonard) finished second while Baileys Wish (Dave Magee) was third.
State-bred sophomore pacers were on display on Saturday, July 6, as a pair of stakes showcased some of the Prairie State’s top three-year-olds.
In the first of two $10,000 divisions of the Ohyouprettything Stakes for pacing fillies, Chris Choros’s State Street Liz rallied in the final strides to knock off five rivals by a nose in a career best of 1:53.2 for driver Robert Smolin.
Perfectly handled from the inside post by Smolin, the daughter of Final Cheers—Pleasepassthejelly saved ground throughout the mile as Dallas Jones (Casey Leonard) put up splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.4. Waiting patiently at the pylons, Smolin maneuvered the Robert Phillips-trained miss into the passing lane and she responded beautifully with a 27-second final quarter to notch her first victory of the season. Mystical Danica (Mike Oosting), who also benefited from a pocket-sitting journey, was a hard-fought second while pacesetter Dallas Jones held on for third.
In the second division, Rocco Ruffolo’s Aliyah Maria continued her impressive second season roll as she recorded her fourth straight win, scoring by one and a half lengths in 1:53.3 for driver Todd Warren.
Sent right to the front from Post 3, the daughter of Duneside Perch—Maria Maria rattled off splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1 while cruising along unchallenged on the front end. With plenty left in reserve, the Roger Welch trainee then rolled home in :27.2 to post her fifth win in 11 tries while pushing her seasonal bankroll over the $53,000 mark. Feel Like Dancing (Kyle Wilfong) rallied nicely to finish second while Special Rose (John Roberts) was third.
Sophomore pacing colts were also in action on Saturday night, as field of 11 squared off in the $12,000 Hothead Stakes.
After dropping a heartbreaking photo to Fancy Creek Elusiv in the Maywood Pace last time out, Paymaq Racing, D&M Trading and Mystical Marker Farms' Mystical Walter turned the tables on that rival Saturday night as he reported home with a two and a quarter-length decision in a lifetime best of 1:52.
After dodging some traffic problems early in the mile, the Erv Miller trainee wound up landing in the pocket as Big Brad (Robert Smolin) and Crankin It Up (Kyle Wilfong) battled through opening splits of :28.1 and :56.1.
Still saving ground at the pylons as Crankin It Up led the field by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:24.3, driver Casey Leonard began searching for racing room with the gelded son of Yankee Skyscaper—Yankee Blue. Finally securing room with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Mystical Walter showed the high turn of speed that has caught many a fan's eye as he exploded home in :27 for his second win of the season. Fancy Creek Elusiv (Dave Magee), who was far back in the early going, rallied well to finish second, while Sage Ruck (Mike Oosting) took home the show dough.
(Balmoral)