With all the preliminary action in the books it’s now 'go-time' for everyone involved in Illinois’ biggest night of standardbred racing as Super Night 2013 is just six nights away at Balmoral Park. After a hectic weekend which saw 12 elimination tussles on Saturday the action slowed down just a bit on Sunday night with six more elimination’s contested for a trio of Super Night events.
Kicking off the action were three-year-old trotting colts as a total of 17 diagonally-gaited sophomores battled in a pair of $15,000 Su Mac Lad Stake elimination’s. The top five finishers in each division will be back on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the $121,000 final.
In the first elimination “Bill” Wright and Mystical Marker Farms’ King Mufasa continued his domination of this division as he rolled to a one-length victory in 1:56.3 with Mike Oosting at the controls.
Sent to the front by Oosting after an opening quarter in 29.1 the gelded son of Powerful Emotion—Foxy N Diamonds was in complete control the rest of the way as he rattled off middle splits of :58.1 and 1:28.1. With the 'soft' middle half under his belt, the Mike Brink trainee had plenty in reserve for the stretch drive, trotting home in an effortless :28.2 for his 11th win in 12 starts this season. Semper Fit finished a nice second despite leaving from the outside post while Fox Valley Camo was third. Happy Balance finished fourth and Riets Kid was fifth.
The division leader has now banked over $156,000 this year for his proud connections and he figures to be an overwhelming favourite on Super Night.
In the second elimination Mystical Marker Farms and Jack and Peggy Hood’s Powerful Poe shed the runner-up role he had assumed seven times already this season knocking off eight rivals by two lengths in 1:56.2 with Todd Warren handling the driving duties.
Despite leaving from an outside post the gelded son of Powerful Emotion—Fox Valley Poetry landed in a good early spot as Powerful Valor and Skyline Road battled through splits of :30, :58.4 and 1:28.1. After securing racing room in the lane Warren asked the Dirk Simpson trainee for his best and the gelding responded beautifully as he trotted home in a brisk :27.3 to post his third win in 14 starts this year. Fox Valley Legend rallied well to be second for red-hot trainer Joel Smith while Fox Valley Dubai finished third. Skyline Road and Powerful Valor finished fourth and fifth, respectively, to earn the last two spots into the Su Mac Lad final.
Next up were three-year-old trotting fillies as a field of 10 looked for nine spots in next week’s $106,000 Lady Ann Reed Stake. They will joined in the finale by Divination who received a bye into the Super Night tussle.
Flashing the form that netted her divisional honours in her two-year-old season, James Bafia, Eugene White and Samuel Daddono’s Trot Fudge Sundae reported home with a half-length victory in a career best of 1:56 with “Mr. Super Night”, Dave Magee, in the bike.
Given a confident steer by Magee the Dirk Simpson trained daughter of American Native—What A Joy shot right to the front from post six putting up splits of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:28.1 while under a snug hold from her Hall of Fame pilot. Fit and fresh as she straightened for the money, the long striding bay put up a 27.4 final quarter to secure her 14th career victory in her 26th lifetime start. Little Ms Chrissy finished a game second while Sara The Spy was third. Also securing spots in the final were Just For Fun, Fox Valley Yavonne, Powerful Goddess, American Empress, Kelseys Star and High Stepper.
A total of 25 filly and mare pacers, three-year-olds and up, were entered for the $123,000 Lorna Propes Stake necessitating a trio of $15,000 elimination tussles. The top three in each division along with one fourth-place finisher - drawn by lot - will be back for the big cash next Saturday night.
In the first elimination James Strzalka, Nancy Magnus, Norma Schulfer and James Skvarla’s Fox Valley Absolut exhibited the form that has netted her more than $361,000 in career earnings as she shook off a tough first over trip to score by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:52.4 for driver Robert Smolin.
Taking advantage of a nice inside draw, the seven-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster was able to save ground through opening splits of :27.2 and :56.2 before moving to the outside as the field headed around the final bend. Grinding her way towards the top the Mike Schulfer trainee was right on the pacesetting Tamarac Sassy’s flank as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.2.
Seemingly finding another gear as the distaffers moved through the lane Fox Valley Absolut swallowed up the pacesetter with a :27.1 final quarter as she began to widen her margin while scoring for the fifth time in 25 starts this year. Kimberley R shook loose late to be the bridesmaid while Tamarac Sassy held on for third. Willow Gram finished fourth.
In the middle split, the Terry Leonard-owned and trained Whistle Pig looked like a princess as she pulled off an 18-1 stunner, scoring by a neck in a career best of 1:52 with Casey Leonard handling the driving chores.
Placed near the back of the pack despite leaving from post position three, the six-year-old daughter of Park Place moved into the outer flow on the far turn as Rev Me Up sped through splits of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24. Moving up with live cover Leonard tipped his mare four deep turning for home and she responded beautifully, speeding home in :27.1 to put up a career best. Fox Valley Touche closed well to finish second while Mystical Victress, the 1-9 favourite in the race, finished third. Kate The Great was fourth.
In the final elimination east coast invader Lets Go Higher made it known that she will be a force to be reckoned with next week as the Heidi Rohr trained five-year-old posted an eye-catching eight-length romp in 1:50.4 with John De Long at the controls.
Perfectly positioned in third as Party Hangover charged through splits of :26.3 and :54.2 De Long moved the daughter of Park Place to the outside as the field moved mid-way around the final turn. Leaving the others in her wake Lets Go Higher sped by the three-quarter-mile station in 1:22.3 as she set sail for the wire. Finishing off the mile in grand fashion Lets Go Higher sped home in :28.1 to post her eighth win of the year for owner Jesse De Long. Just By Design finished second while Tune In finished fourth but was moved up to third via a disqualification of Fox Valley Hermia who was cited for interfering with several horses near the top of the stretch. Cole Blue finished fifth but was moved up to fourth because of the DQ.
Sunday’s 50 cent Pick 5 wager was not hit so there will be a carryover of $10,416 into Wednesday night’s pool. There will now be a $30,000 guaranteed pool on Wednesday’s Pick 5. The Pick 5 entails races 2-6 each night.
(Balmoral Park)