Freshmen pacing colts were the center of attention on Saturday night as a total of 17 two-year-olds squared off in a pair of $17,000 American National eliminations at Balmoral Park.
The top five finishers in each preliminary battle will be back next Saturday to slug it out for a $170,000 jackpot as part of Balmoral's big American National Festival of Racing.
In the opening elimination Bulletproof Enterprises Schoolkids looked like a seasoned veteran as he made every call a winning one in an effortless 1:53.
Confidently sent right to the top by driver Mike Oosting this son of I Am A Fool-Game Bunny rattled off splits of 27.2, 55.0 and 1:23 while unchallenged throughout his journey.
The issue was never in doubt in the lane as the Tracy Brainard trained colt cruised home to a three-length score. Local hope Doubletrouble (Dave Magee) came charging through along the passing lane to prevail in a spirited battle for the place money while Sand Benelli (Dan Noble) was third. Gordieisanartist (Brandon Simpson) was fourth while Grandma Jans Max (Brent Holland) earned a spot in the final with his fifth place finish.
With the win, this good looking colt now boasts a record of six wins, three seconds and one third in 11 starts. Sent off as the overwhelming 2-5 choice of the betting public Schoolkids returned $2.80, $2.20 & $2.20.
In the second elimination Sawgrass Farms Annieswesterncard circled rivals on the far turn then drew clear in the lane to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:54.2.
Well handled by youngster Travis Seekman this gelded son of Western Hanover-Annie Your A Card was in no hurry through the opening stages of the race as the favored Standupnkissme (Jim Dailey) rolled through splits of 27.2, 55.4 and 1:24.0.
Working his way into a live outer flow the Joe Seekman trainee then tipped three wide midway around the final turn and began gobbling up ground. Taking dead aim on the leader Anniewesterncard cruised right by the favorite to earn his sixth win in 11 starts this season. Standupnkissme held on for second while Major Scoot (Mike Oosting) was a non-threatening third. Also earning spots in the final were Russs ZTam (Sam Widger) and Smellthecolornine (Tyler Buter).
Well backed at the windows despite starting from the outside post Annieswesterncard returned $4.80, $2.60 & $2.10 while running his bankroll up to $213,860.
Next Saturday's American National Festival of Racing will feature six big American National Stakes with some of North America's top pacers and trotters expected to visit the Crete oval. Topping one of Illinois biggest night of racing will be the Three-Year-Old Colt Pace which carries a purse of $275,000. The Aged Pace has a purse of $200,000 while the Aged Trot carries a jackpot of $175,000. The Two-Year-Old Colt Pace and Three-Year-Old Filly Pace have purses of $170,000 while the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace will go for $116,000.
(With files from Balmoral)