5 Simpsons on tap Friday

Five divisions of the John Simpson Memorial stakes will highlight Friday night’s racing program at The Red Mile. Twenty-two declarations for the 3-year-old filly trot greeted racing secretary Kevin Mack when he opened the entry box, necessitating three $25,200 divisions. Also on the card are two Simpson divisions for freshman filly pacers.

Susie’s Magic, fresh off her best performance of the season in Sunday’s Moni Maker final where she finished a close third to Passionate Glide, will be the choice in the first division for trainer Bobby Stewart. Owned by Lee and Linda Devisser, W.L. Jones and Susan Atkins, the Dream Vacation lass has earned over $85,000 this season. Klipspringer has not matched her form of last year but finds a friendlier spot this evening for the Czernyson barn after a creditable showing in the aforementioned Moni Maker.

2005 Merrie Annabelle winner Miss Wiscosin heads the second split for trainer Ron Gurfein and owners the Miss Wisconsin Stable. This Muscles Yankee filly put in three tough heats at Du Quoin, winning one in a personal best of 1:55 only to lose the World Filly Trotting Derby trophy in a race-off. Gastine is the best performer to date from the great Continentalvictory, having annexed the KYSS final here at The Red Mile and a division of the Hanover Stakes in Chicago in her last two outings for Bob Stewart and the Dream With Me Stable. Claudia may surprise, moving to the mile off of only half-mile track starts in the NYSS program this season.

The third division has the speedy though lightly raced My Foolish Dream, four of six on the year including the Review Stake, for trainer-driver Mark O’Mara and owner Darlene McNulty. Keystone Graditude trotted to a 1:56.2 record in a Red Mile closer recently and is on the improve for trainer Jan Johnson. Classical Girl can succeed with better racing luck.

Freshman pacing fillies comprise the remaining two Simpson Stakes on the card for a purse of $18,250 per division.

Real Girl returns after a disappointing effort in last week’s KYSS final where she faded to sixth as the 1-9 fave. She need only return to prior form to contend here for the Mark Harder Stable and owners TLP Stable, Lamera and Loconte. Al’s Girl makes her first local appearance for the Silverman barn after a successful campaign in Ontario. Ozmopolitan is a Chicago shipper with impressive credentials.

The second split offers a look at a few of the fillies that may well have a say in the outcome of the upcoming Grand Circuit stakes in Lexington. Cabana Fever went into the She’s A Great Lady final at Mohawk as the unbeaten favorite, having set the track standard of 1:51.4 in her elimination. Her chances in that final may well have been compromised by typhoon-like conditions, resulting in a sixth-place finish for the Real Desire filly. She’s had a couple of weeks to recover and returns here for trainer Joe Seekman and owners L&L Devisser, Sawgrass Farms and Helping Hands Stable.

Noel Daley sends out a Dragon Again filly named Little Miss Dragon for Adam Victor & Son who has evidenced a turn of speed much like My Little Dragon did for the same barn last season. She has but one official start, an easy 1:53.4 romp and was vicious in a qualifying prep last week. Not to be forgotten, My Fave Wave overcame post 10 to rally for third in the KYSS final last week. (Red Mile)

« Back