The countdown to Illinois' biggest night of racing, Super Night 2008, began in earnest on Saturday night as elimination events for the Filly Orange & Blue, Orange & Blue, Grandma Ann & Pete Langley Memorial Stakes were contested.
Despite the fact that the track was listed as sloppy after two straight days of heavy rains, the racing surface held up remarkably well and there were still plenty of quick miles from the Prairie State's top two and three-year-old pacers.
A total of 29 two-year-old pacing fillies were entered for the Filly Orange & Blue necessitating three eliminations. The top three finishers in each division along with one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) get the chance to move on to next week's $280,000 (est.) final.
In the opening division driver Sam Widger swept to the top just after the quarter-mile mark with Fox Valley Tyra and the daughter of Sportsmaster-No Uglies held tough the rest of the way as she splashed to a 1 1/2 length victory in a career best of 1:54.
Canes Z Tam (Dave Magee), the 3-5 favorite in the race, followed the winner's every move, but was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Matts Wolfey (Dean Magee) was a distant third, nine lengths behind the winner. Annie Your Cool (Brent Holland) was fourth.
Coming off breaks in her two previous starts in DuQuoin, the Mike Schulfer trainee was overlooked in the wagering, rewarding her backers with a $25.20 win mutuel as she scored for the fourth time in nine career starts for Christine Buttice, William Norton, Frank Santilli and Louis Buttice.
There was another upset in the middle division as Danny Dubeansky and Brett Wilfong's Spyder Bite came roaring down the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:55.3.
Dispatched at odds of 8-1, the homebred daughter of JT Western-Start To Cruise rallied from eighth at the half-mile mark for driver Del Chupp picking off the tiring leaders with a 28.1 final quarter to record her second win in six lifetime starts.
You Never Let Go (Brandon Simpson) was second while Park Lane Rhythm (Andy Miller) finished third. Honeys Luck (Brent Holland), the 4-5 favorite who was responsible for the brisk early pace, faded to fourth.
Things went as predicted in the final division as Shim Racing, John Carver and Bert Hochsprung's Right Right, the 4-5 favorite in the race, cruised to a 1 1/4 length verdict in 1:53.1 for driver Andy Miller.
Placed just off the pace this daughter of Cole Muffler-Fastidious Hanover, who was fresh off a win in the Great Lady Stake at Mohawk Racetrack, rolled up second over, took command in mid-stretch and then held off a furious rally from Fox Valley Topaz (Mike Oosting) to post her fourth win in nine career starts.
Fox Valley Absolut (Brent Holland) rallied late to pick up the show dough while Native Hotspur (Dan Noble) was fourth.
The entry box was overflowing for the Orange & Blue elimination's as a total of 38 colts and geldings were sent postward in four battles. The top two finishers in each race plus two third place finishers (drawn by lot) will be back next Saturday to go for a purse of $260,000 (est.).
In the first division the Joel Smith owned and trained Successfully Rich took advantage of a golden two-hole trip in route to a 2 1/4 length victory in 1:54.4.
Perfectly positioned by Brent Holland, this son of Richess Hanover-Incredible Success sat right on the back of the pace setting SmellTheColornine (Marcus Miller) before charging up the inside of the tiring leader for his second career victory.
Oliver Brown (Sam Widger) uncorked a big late move to finish second while Richie The Clown (Josh Sutton) finished third.
In the second division, Z Tam Racing, David McCaffrey and Mr. C Stables' The Classic Z Tam survived some brisk early fractions to post a gritty neck decision in 1:53.3.
Confidently handled by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, this son of Cole Muffler-Cannae Steffi was used twice before the field had even reached the half-mile marker. Despite the brutal 54.4 opening half, the 2-5 favorite still had enough left in the tank to hold off the challenge of My Boy Luke (Brent Holland) through a thrilling stretch drive. Doubletrouble (Brandon Simpson) rallied late to finish third.
The third division also went to the "chalk" as Harvey Eisman's Grandma Jans Max gave Brent Holland another Super Night elimination win with a 1 1/4 length victory in 1:54.2.
Kept well off a torrid three-quarters of 1:23.4, this son of Richess Hanover-Jans Julie Too swung three wide as the field turned for home. Moving swiftly on the far outside, the Erv Miller trainee quickly swallowed up the tiring leaders in the lane for his third win in eight starts.
Texas Playboy (Sam Widger) rallied late to finish second while Fox Valley Seth (Todd Warren) was third.
The nightcap turned into a stroll in the park for the heavily favored Enzo The Baker as the Dave McCaffrey trainee romped home by six lengths in 1:53.2.
Backed to the near exclusion of his eight rivals, the son of Cole Muffler-Shessoluvabull gradually worked his way up to the leaders while first over for driver Dave Magee. After drawing even at the top of the stretch, the 1-9 favorite then shifted into another gear as he cruised to his fourth win in six career starts.
JimmyCrackedcorn (Sam Widger) rallied to be second while Big Party (Brandon Simpson) was third.
A total of 26 sophomore pacing fillies were dropped into the box for the Grandma Ann eliminations necessitating a three-way split. Once again the top three in each elimination along with one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) will move on to the $200,000 (est.) final next week.
The opening elimination provided yet another upset on the rain soaked oval as Orville Rursch's Impressive Char turned in a gritty performance to win by a nose in 1:53.3.
Given a confident steer by driver Brandon Simpson, this daughter of Jodys Cam-Lake Hills Char swept into command after the quarter then fought off multiple challenges from the top contenders as she held firm to the wire while winning for only the second time in 10 starts this year.
Hot Lips (Sam Widger), the 7-5 favorite in the race, was a hard trying second while Amazing Marker (Andy Miller) was third. Grandma Mary (Mike Oosting) finished fourth.
In the second division, Kenneth Spurlock's Kennans Kelli continued her stellar second season with a 1 3/4 length triumph in 1:53.4.
Sweeping to the top just after the quarter-mile mark for driver Mike Oosting, this daughter of Cole Muffler-Lake Hills Mama was never seriously threatened as she paced to her ninth win in 24 starts this season. Townes Party Girl (Dave Magee) used a nice second over journey to grab the place spot. Third place finisher Westside Gritty (Brent Holland), the 3-5 favorite in the race, made a nasty break just after the half-mile pole interfering with eventual sixth place finisher Crusin Crimson, which resulted in the disqualification of the heavy favorite. That DQ moved Lalique Lady (Andy Miller) into the show spot while Dingys Model (Dale Hiteman) was moved up to fourth.
In the final elimination last year's Filly Orange & Blue winner Kellys Keepsake kept her hopes of becoming a two-time Super Night winner alive with a thrilling nose decision in 1:53.3.
Moving first over for the final five-eighths of a mile with driver Andy Miller in tow the daughter of Sportsmaster-C Suzabelle appeared to be beaten with less than 100 yards to go, but the Erv Miller trainee found something extra and was able to poke a nose in front of 36-1 outsider I Y Q (Mike Oosting) in the last stride.
Shes So Hot (Dave Magee) finish third while the pace setting Shes Not (Del Chupp) was fourth.
Sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the race Kellys Keepsake now boasts eight wins in 14 starts this season for owners Jack and Peggy Hood, Mystical Marker Farms and Kenneth Duffy.
The Pete Langley Memorial elimination's attracted 15 three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The top five finishers in each of the two elimination's will be back to slug it out in the $165,000 (est.) final on Super Night.
In the first elimination, Melinda Remley and Alice Roberts' Prize Art continued his amazing sophomore season with a three-quarter length score in a snappy 1:51.1.
Using the "give and go" to perfection driver Brent Holland allowed a hard charging Roy Orbisong (Marcus Miller) to grab the lead as the field headed on to the backstretch. The son of Partyatartsplace-Nice Prize quickly reclaimed the lead just after the quarter and the issue was never really in doubt from that point on as the Ronnie Roberts trained gelding posted his eighth win in 15 starts.
Roy Orbisong held on for second while Letsgetitstarted (Sam Widger) was third. Also gaining spots in the final were Aint No Hearsay (Dan Noble) and Jolly Lester (Dale Hiteman).
In the second elimination, last year's Super Night hero, Froggy Turner, turned the tables on division leader Mucho Sleazy (Mike Oosting) again with a one-length victory in a career best of 1:52.
After giving way to the heavy favorite nearing the half-mile mark, driver Dave Magee positioned the son of Cole Muffler-Snitch right on the back of Mucho Sleazy the rest of the way. With less than a sixteenth of a mile to go, Magee maneuvered the Tom Simmons trained colt to the outside and he responded beautifully, wearing down the pace setter in the final strides for his 10th career victory.
Mucho Sleazy held on for second while Littlebitoflife (Sam Widger) finished third.
Super Night elimination's continue on Sunday with Ann Vonian, Tony Maurello (formerly the Dan Patch), Lady Ann Reed and Su Mac Lad Stake eliminations filling the card. Post time on Sunday is 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Balmoral)