Despite coming into the race winless through her five-race career, Maevey Gravy looked like an old pro returning to the winner’s circle after knocking off nine other Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old trotting fillies in Wednesday’s $107,000 Lady Lincoln Land Stake
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Given a perfect steer by driver Mike Oosting, the daughter of Northern Kid-Grace Elizabeth took advantage of her inside post as Oosting found a perfect garden spot with Fox Valley Helen (Todd Warren) charging up from the outside to lead the field through an opening quarter in :29.3.
Content to watch the action from the pylons as the lead changed hands several times with Rubys And Pearls (Rick Schrock) and favourite Fox Valley Velvet knocking heads, Oosting had Maevey Gravy perfectly positioned in fourth as the half went up in :58.
“At that point I was a little surprised by the action going on in front of us,” explained Oosting. “Fortunately, I knew there were going enough and it was a tiring kind of track out there tonight so I thought they might come back to everyone.”
Seizing on his opportunity to secure racing room, Oosting moved the Roger Welch-trained miss off the pylons heading around the final turn. Moving to within two lengths of the embattled leaders, Maevey Gravy had dead aim on the top pair as the fillies moved past the three-quarter-mile station in 1:27.3.
Through the lane the heated battle up front started to get the best of both Fox Valley Velvet and Rubys And Pearls, leaving Oosting and Maevey Gravy with clear sailing to this year’s biggest jackpot for these state-bred trotting fillies.
“At the top of the lane I could tell Todd’s horse [Fox Valley Helen] was all done and the top two [Fox Valley Velvet and Rubys And Pearls] were also starting to struggle from dueling it out up front,” said Oosting.
Moving swiftly on the outside of horses, Maevey Gravy zipped right by the top two and was on cruise control the rest of the way as she recorded an easy 3-3/4 length triumph. Ants Iner Pants (Steve Searle), a 25-1 outsider, rallied from eighth at the half to be the bridesmaid while 66-1 longshot Cryptic Gold (John Roberts) shook loose late to finish third, producing a $10,088.70 trifecta payout.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering thanks in part to getting Oosting in the bike for the first time and drawing the inside post, Maevey Gravy returned $10.40, $5.80 and $3.60.
After the victory, Oosting was quick to praise both horse and trainer.
“Roger really had her ready for tonight’s race,” said a smiling Oosting. “I had never even watched her so it was all by feel for me with her tonight and she was perfect. She’s well gaited and she responded when I asked her and she never stopped trotting all the way through the wire.”
Wednesday’s Pick 5 was not hit so there will be a carryover of $4,699.75 added to Saturday’s Pick 5 pool at Balmoral Park and there will be a $20,000 guarantee on the wager. The Pick 5 is conducted on Races 2 thru 6 each night. Post time for Saturday’s opening is 7:10 p.m. (central) and the Pick 5 is expected to begin around 7:30 p.m. (central).
(Balmoral Park)