A busy stakes-filled night of action was contested on Sunday, October 13 as Balmoral Park welcomed Grand Circuit action back to town. On tap was a pair of $27,950 splits for two-year-old filly trotters while their male counterparts slugged it out later in the night for a $46,700 jackpot.
In the first Hanover split for the freshman trotting fillies, Bobby Brower and Mystical Marker Farms' Petticoat Affair had no trouble living up to her favoured status as she cruised to a four and three-quarter-length triumph in 1:57.1 with Brad Hanners at the controls.
Sweeping from fifth to first on the backside after watching Dancing Dynamite (Dean Magee) cruise through an opening quarter in :28.2, the daughter of Valley Victor—Katie Hall was in complete control of the proceedings as she rolled through middle splits of :58 and 1:27.3.
With plenty still in reserve the Brower-trained miss trotted home in :29.3 while continuing to put daylight between herself and her five rivals to notch her fifth win in eight starts this year. Dancing Dynamite held on for second while Fox Valley Lotus (John Roberts), who made a break leaving the gate, rallied to finish third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Petticoat Affair returned $3.60, $2.40 and $2.40 while upping her career bankroll to $185,124.
In the second division the Brower-trained, Hanners-driven connection clicked again as Victory Hill Farms and Brower’s Pray With Me demolished six rivals by seven lengths in 1:58.4.
After saving ground in third while Dress For Success (Dale Hiteman) carved out leisurely splits of :30 and 1:00.1, Hanners set the daughter of Broadway Hall—Hail Mary Hanover on a mission for the lead heading into the final bend. Effortlessly sweeping past her foes on the turn, Pray With Me was in front by a length and starting to leave her rivals in her wake as she stepped by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:29.4.
Leaving no doubt as to who was the best in this group, Pray With Me trotted home in :29 to post her third win in eight lifetime starts. Simply Class (Joe Putnam) finished second while Pinking Of You (Casey Leonard) was third.
Bet as though defeat was out of the question, Pray With Me returned $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10 while upping her bankroll to $64,026.
A field of nine two-year-old trotting colts was sent postward for the $46,700 Hanover and when all was said and done it was last week’s Lincoln Land Stake winner Photo Surprise who emerged victorious as he trotted to a one length victory in a career best of 1:57.4 for driver Mike Oosting.
Gamely “toughing it out” first over as Nino Marino (Dean Magee) put up splits of :28.2 and :58.1, the Nelson Willis trainee swept past his rivals on the far turn and began to draw away from the field as he rolled by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.1.
Continuing in full stride as he headed for the wire, the state-bred son of Powerful Emotion—Gloria Wyoming was straight and strong as he continued his late season surge with his third win in eight career starts. Big Bad Bob (Dale Hiteman) rallied late to finish second while Explosive Cash (Casey Leonard) was third.
Fresh off that win in the biggest event of the year for diagonally gaited Prairie State freshmen, the Jerry Graham-owned gelding returned just $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10 while running his career bankroll up to $76,725.
State-bred pacing fillies were also in action on the busy Sunday night card as a field of eight youngsters squared off in a $12,000 Betzotic Stake.
In a re-match of the Violet Stake at Maywood Park last week, Sawgrass Farms' Molly Go Lightly once again proved best as she reported home with a three-quarter-length triumph in 1:54.1 with Mike Oosting at the controls.
Content to bide her time in the middle of the pack as Mae Flynn (Ryan Anderson) put up splits of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1, Oosting maneuvered his charge into a live outer flow as the field moved around the final turn. Tipping three and then four-wide from her third over position, the Nelson Willis-trained miss then uncorked a blistering :27 final quarter to blow right by her rivals for her fifth win in 12 lifetime starts. Fox Valley Amanda (Dale Hiteman) came up with a solid effort to finish second while Fox Valley Shiver (Todd Warren) was third.
With the win, the daughter of Lexington Legend—Waggle sports a record of 5-1-3 in 12 career starts with earnings of $50,895.
(Balmoral Park)