Am-Nat 2FT elims held

Miss Wisconsin and Belle Of The Ball captured their respective $17,400 American National eliminations for 2-year-old filly trotters Thursday night at Balmoral Park. The top five in each elim will return for the $128,000 final on Sept. 15.



In the opening division Merrie Annabelle winner Miss Wisconsin overcame a tough trip to win by a neck in 1:59.2 for Mike Lachance. Leaving from post position eight, Lachance was able to float away from the gate while maneuvering around a trio of breaking fillies in the first turn. Looking to tuck in fifth because of the gaps caused by the breakers, Lachance said he had to rethink his strategy as his filly had a different idea in mind.



"She's usually a pleasure and very easy to drive but tonight she was really ‘hot' from the time she hit the track so I had to let her do things her way," Lachance explained.



Content to sit outside while steadily gaining ground on the pace setting Venezia and driver Doug J. Ackerman, Miss Wisconsin was starting to relax which in turn gave Lachance a chance to relax a bit.



"She dropped a shoe leaving the gate as well," said Lachance. "I almost lost her once or twice early on so I just let her go on as she wanted."



Grinding away while first-over the Ron Gurfein trainee was within a head of the leader as they straightened away for the stretch drive. After overtaking that filly Miss Wisconsin started to drift out a bit and appeared to be hanging as MJ Kay Gloria came charging up the inside.



"I think that was caused by the shoe she was missing. I finally kicked the earplugs out on her with 100 yards to go and she just found another gear and re-rallied for the win," said a relieved Lachance.



Keystone Gratitude (Jan Johnson) came on late to be a strong second while Azalea Gal, the longest shot on the board at 88-1, found room late to finish third. MJ Kay Gloria held on for fourth while Hanover Stake winner Muscle Chip was fifth.



The final elimination tussle provided one of the best performances of the night as Belle Of The Ball equaled the track standard for a 2-year-old trotting filly with a 1 ¼ length victory in 1:56.4.



Leaving from the outside starting spot in the field of nine, driver Brett Miller was in no hurry to get his filly into the fray as Fox Valley Shimmy and Southwind Felician slugged it out through opening panels of :29.2 & :57.2. Finally getting underway as the field moved around the far turn Belle Of The Ball was traveling fourth-over in sixth as the field turned for the money.



With Hayes Memorial winner Victor's Finesse providing the live cover for them, Miller and Belle Of The Ball were following the 4-5 favorites every move through the lane. After tipping off that cover with an eighth of a mile to trot the Danny Collins-trained daughter of Muscles Yankee unleashed a :27.4 final quarter to blow the doors off of the competition at odds of 18-1. Victor's Finesse (Andy Miller) had to settle for the bridesmaid role while Fox Valley Shimmy (Pat Berry) hung on to finish a distant third more than seven lengths behind the winner. Southwind Felician was fourth while Tresokay was 16 ¾ lengths back in fifth. (Balmoral Park)

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