Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters were back in action Sunday as Balmoral Park played host to three-year-old trotting fillies in the $22,650 Lady Ann Reed Stake consolation.
After a disappointing sixth-place finish on Super Night, Fox Valley Standardbreds and Jim Edgar’s Fox Valley Helen made amends for that showing as she rallied in the final strides to win by a neck in 1:59 for driver Todd Warren.
After saving ground throughout the mile while Fox Valley Lexus controlled the pace Warren maneuvered the daughter of Vaporize-Memory Maker to the outside for the stretch drive.
Gradually wearing down the leaders the Roger Welch trainee forged her way to the front and then gamely held off a late charge up the inside from Powerful Star (Dale Hiteman) to post her second win of the season. Powerful Star, who made a break near the top of the stretch recovered nicely to finish second while Powerful Rosie (Brian Carpenter) finished third.
(Balmoral Park)