American National elims

Both trotters and pacers shared the spotlight at Balmoral Park on Saturday night as elimination's for next week's American National 3-Year-Old Filly Trot and Aged Pace were contested. Both finals will be part of the big American National Festival of Racing on Nov. 5 and both of the finals for these events will carry a purse of $250,000.



In the first of two $28,000 elimination's for the sophomore filly trotters, Robert Rietveld and Paul Gibson's Victor's Pursuit, made it look easy as she coasted to a front-stepping 1-3/4 length score in 1:56.4.



Whotookwhat followed the winner's every move but was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Reinvent (Tim Tetrick) was third. Also earning spots in the final were Christina M and Magenta Hall.



Another state-bred trotting filly toted home top honors in the second elimination of the sophomore filly trotting elimination's as Turndorf Racing's Arcola showed that she is still a forced to be reckoned with by registering a head decision in 1:56.3 for driver Tim Tetrick.



Just like Victor's Pursuit, this filly also hails from the barn of conditioner Roger Welch. Ladymatic finished second with Just Like Dream third. Early leader and betting favorite Coulantine wound up fourth while Third Reef secured the final spot in next week's rich final.



In the first $27,000 elimination for older pacers James Jesk's Town Champion returned to his home base with a flourish as he rallied late for a half-length triumph in a brisk 1:49.3 for driver Eric Ledford.



Pokagon (Tetrick) turned in a solid late-rushing effort to finish second while He Wants It All held on for third. Timesareachanging was fourth and Foxy Maneuver earned a spot in the final with his fifth-place finish.



The closing elimination for the Aged Pace was reduced to just six starters because of the scratch of Ponder who came up sick. The race was then basically reduced to a stroll in the park for the other starters when Casimir Camotion, the 4-5 favorite in the race, made a nasty break behind the gate and was distanced throughout the rest of the battle.



That miscue allowed Cliff Siegel, Lee Wasserman and John Fodera's Breeders Crown Champion Boulder Creek to pace home with a deceptively easy 1-3/4 length victory in 1:51.1.



Articulator turned in a solid effort to finish second while Escape The Wind was third. Artiology finished fourth while Sagebrush found his way into the final with a fifth-place finish.

« Back