State-bred trotting fillies took center stage on Sunday night at Balmoral Park as a field of 10 diagonally-gaited youngsters met in a $12,500 Lady Lincoln Land Stake elimination.
The top seven finishers will return for next week’s $80,000 (est.) final, which is the richest event of the season for these Prairie State youngsters. They will be joined by Shez A Devil Woman, Surviver Di and Awfully Emotional.
Taking advantage of a perfect pocket-sitting trip after leaving from post position two, Providence West’s Vengeful returned to her winning ways as she trotted to a hard-earned three-quarter length victory in 1:59.2.
Perfectly positioned in the garden spot as Powerful Princess (John De Long) carved out splits of :30.3, 1:01.2 and 1:30.4, Leonard moved to the outside with the Kenny Collier-trained daughter of Powerful Emotion—Over The Top with an eighth of a mile to go.
Gradually wearing down the stubborn first-time starter, this year’s Hanover Stake winner finally moved past the pacesetter with 50 yards to go and began to draw clear in the shadow of the wire for her fourth win in eight lifetime starts. Powerful Princess turned in a very respectable effort in her career debut to be the bridesmaid while More Than Likely (Kyle Wilfong) finished third. Also gaining spots in the final were Fox Valley Honey, Praise Singer, Lilbitoftrixie and Swift Cougar.
Heavily backed at the betting windows, Vengeful returned $4.60, $3.00 and $3.00 while running her career earnings over the $25,000 mark.
Sophomore trotting fillies were also in action on Sunday night as a field of six Illinois-conceived and foaled trotters battled in a $13,550 Lady Ann Reed Stake consolation.
Lynn and Barbara Wilfong’s None Of That Stuff proved to be far too much for this field to handle as she powered up first over on the far turn then left her rivals in her wake while cruising to a three and a half length victory in a career-best of 1:57 for driver Kyle Wilfong. Shez So Sassy (Todd Warren), the 6-5 favourite of the betting public, finished a hard-fought second while Divinely Floozy (Tim Curtin) was third.
The Amanda Cope-trained daughter of Designer Lindy—No Joshin returned $9.20, $3.80 and $2.60 while pushing her career bankroll over the $14,000 mark in this her first season of racing.
(Balmoral Park)