The stars were out in full force at Balmoral Park on Saturday evening as the Illinois oval hosted Super Night – the track's biggest card of the year.
Here is a recap from the various events:
$120,000 Su Mac Lad
Maxter didn't disappoint his backers in the $120,000 Su Mac Lad Trot, thanks to a 1:56.4 decision for driver Brent Holland.
Conditioned by Roger Welch, the three-year-old son of Valley Victor has dominated his division by capturing almost all major stakes for state-bred competitors. In the Su Mac Lad, Maxter front-stepped his way to the victory over Chip Marshall and Our Priority.
"Of course I'm very happy with Maxter's performance, he always steps up to the plate and just looked very strong tonight," Welch said.
Maxter now has 13 wins in 18 seasonal starts and pushed his 2008 earnings to $217,635 for owners Turndorf Racing of California.
$120,000 Lady Ann Reed
In a shocking upset, Jamaica Patton steered My Birthday to a 1:57.2 victory in the $120,000 Lady Ann Reed. The three-year-old daughter of Smokey Legend notched her fourth win of the year in 17 starts for owner Herman Wheeler of Monroe, LA.
"This is a dream come true," said Patton in the winner's circle. "We've been working with this filly all year long and always believed in her ability."
My Birthday finished fifth in her Lady Ann Reed elimination, thus grabbing a starting berth for herself in the final. She has stashed away $78,120 for her connections in 2008.
$125,000 Ann Vonian Championship
Martha Maxine scored her tenth consecutive victory by capturing the $125,000 Ann Vonian for driver Andy Miller. The four-year-old daughter of Park Place cruised to a 1:50.1 victory for trainer Erv Miller.
She pushed her seasonal earnings to $181,535 with the win. It was her 13th score of the year in 19 trips postward.
"We bought this filly earlier in this and found out she had a throat problem," trainer Erv Miller noted. "We had surgery performed and ever since she's been tremendous. It's great to win races with a horse like this who can come first over, endure a tough trip and just keep on truckin'."
Martha Maxine is owned by the Erv Miller Stable, Tony Alagna and the Brittany Farms, who purchased the mare May 26, 2008. Her time was just a tick off the record set by another Miller trainee - the outstanding mare Loyal Opposition.
$260,000 Orange & Blue
Fox Valley Topaz set a new track record en route to winning the $260,000 Orange & Blue Filly Championship for two-year-old pacing fillies. Steered by Mike Oosting for trainer Ken Rucker, the daughter of Sportsmaster stopped the timer in a stakes record clocking of 1:52.2.
An enthusiastic Marty Engel, who owns the filly in partnership with Rucker, said he was glad to be part of the Illinois program.
"Illinois has a great program for our state-bred horses," Engel noted. "There's no better thrill than buying a yearling at a sale or raising a baby and then having them win a Super Night event. That's what makes racing in Illinois so superior."
Fox Valley Topaz pushed her seasonal earnings to $212,575 with the win. It was the seventh score in nine starts for the filly.
$200,000 Grandma Ann Championship
Dave Magee brought home 19-1 longshot Townes Party Girl in 1:51.4 to win the $200,000 Grandma Ann Championship. The daughter of Ideal Towne notched her fifth win of the season in 18 trips postward for trainer Nelson Willis and the partnership of Richard Elmore, Robert and John Esposito and James Kinkaid.
"This filly really impressed me in her elimination," said Magee. "I thought she had a good shot in here if the trip worked out her way, and ultimately, that's what happened."
Townes Party Girl added the winner's share of $89,000 to her seasonal bankroll of $41,747 and pushed her career earnings to $139,479. The victory was the seventh of her career.
$125,000 Tony Maurello Championship
Booze Cruzin and driver Sam Widger put away their rivals in a courageous 1:49.2 victory in the $125,000 Tony Maurello Championship-the fastest time ever in the history of Super Night.
Trained by Joe Seekman for the Broekhuis Stable of Michigan, the four-year-old altered son of Arts Conquest defeated Thisbigdogwilfight and Fox Valley Tribal.
Booze Cruzin upped his seasonal earnings to $187,426, making this win his sixth of the year in 24 tries. The winning mile was only the second 1:50 mile in Super Night history - the first came in 2005 when Loyal Opposition paced in 1:49.4.
"Booze Cruzin never ceases to amaze me," said Widger. "He shows up week after week and always is ready to get a great effort."
Booze Cruzin pushed his career earnings to $577,214 with his 18th win in 63 lifetime starts.
$165,000 Langley Memorial
Mucho Sleazy romped to a front stepping 1:50 victory for driver Mike Oosting in the $165,000 Langley Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts.
The son of Sportsmaster paced gamely all the way to the wire, holding off late challenges by Jolly Lester and Lets Getit Started.
The win was the seventh of the year in 18 tries for blue-hooded Mucho Sleazy and pushed his seasonal earnings to $412,825 and his lifetime winnings to $593,370.
Mucho Sleazy's win also gave the Engle/Rucker team their first Super Night victories, and gave driver Mike Oosting his third career Super Night driving crown.
$280,000 Orange & Blue Colt Pace
Race favourite Enzo The Baker capped off Super Night by winning the $280,000 Orange & Blue Colt Championship in 1:52.1 with driver Dave Magee at the lines.
The Cole Muffler gelding added $124,600 to his career earnings of $39,090 for trainer Dave McCaffrey and owners Scurto Stable, Anthony & Michael Somone and Leon Johnson of Illinois.
"This has been a great thrill for us," said winning co-owner Joe Scurto. "We owe a lot to trainer Dave McCaffrey for keeping this horse together for us throughout the season. This is why we're in this business, to owe a horse that can win a Super Night championship."
The win was the fifth of seven lifetime starts for Enzo The Baker, and it gave Magee his 26th Super Night Championship drive.
(Balmoral Park)