What do you get when you mix a juvenile pacing filly, a 20-year-old driver and an $184,000 stakes race? Trainer Homer Hochstetler is hoping the right answer is 'one nice payday.'
On Saturday, September 17, the Hochstetler-trained two-year-old Sportsmaster lass Kendyl will take to the course at Balmoral Park for the $184,000 Orange and Blue Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, which is part of the track's annual Super Night.
Twenty-year-old pilot Kyle Wilfong will be steering the filly for Hochstetler, who went on the record as saying that the Orange and Blue has been on Kendyl's dance card for quite some time.
“The Orange and Blue has been the target and I am thrilled we are there," Hochstetler told Balmoral Park's publicity office. "My son, Matthew Douglas, qualified Kendyl. Kyle Wilfong liked her the first time he drove her and gets along with her fabulously well. I cannot be happier. I skipped the downstate races to keep her fresh. Kendyl reminds me of Sportsfancy, a filly that I trained.”
So far this season, Kendyl has gone to post for just five pari-mutuel events. She has recorded two wins, a pair of second-place finishes and holds a 1:55 speed badge over the one-mile Balmoral strip.
Kendyl snared a win in her last start --- her Orange and Blue elimination --- when she turned a pocket ride into a one and a quarter-length victory.
“Kendyl is a ‘feel good’ filly," Wilfong was quoted as saying. "She felt great in the elimination. Yes, we got a good trip but she took off when asked. There is more to come. She has to go faster to win but I have no doubt in my mind she can.”
Balmoral's PR department was busy writing up a slew of preview stories for its Super Night.
To check out all of the Super Night preview stories, click here.
(With files form Balmoral)