American Nationals feature 3-year-old trotters at Balmoral

Some of North America’s finest 3-year-old trotters will be on display Saturday night at Balmoral Park as a pair of prestigious American National Stakes share top billing on the 14-race program.

Sophomore trotting fillies will get the action underway in race four as a field of 10 ladies battle for a purse of $185,000. Headlining this group is Falkbolagen Ab’s Lantern Kronos, the runner-up in this year’s Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands. The Swedish-bred daughter of Viking Kronos ran into traffic problems in the final of the Hambletonian Oaks but still managed to rattle off an impressive :27.4 final split to wind up as the bridesmaid.

The Jimmy Takter-trained and driven miss captured her elimination for the Oaks in a career best of 1:54.2 the previous week. Sporting a record of nine wins and five seconds in 16 lifetime starts Lantern Kronos has earned more than $615,000 in her career. Despite drawing post position nine for this encounter Lantern Kronos has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Others who merit serious consideration for top honors include Torkil Pedersen’s Prada Hall, who won an Elegantimage elimination back in June and was third in her Hambo Oaks elimination before making a break in the final and the Trond Smedshammer-trained Poster Pin Up, who comes to town off back-to-back scores in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events at The Meadows and Harrah's Chester.

Rounding out the field are Princessndiamonds, Celebrity Tribute, Emma Rose, All Our Moni, Diana Hall, Saqqara Dream and Along The Way.

A field of 10 trotting colts will head postward in race six as they slug it out for a purse of $200,000.

Asa Farms, Team Garberg and Stall Sixpence’s Clerk Magistrate, the fifth-place finisher in this year’s Hambletonian, is the early favorite in the race at 3-1. The royally-bred son of Andover Hall is enjoying a big second season on the track with more than $322,000 in earnings to his credit this year. His biggest win to date came back on June 14 when he captured the $274,190 Goodtimes Stake at Mohawk in a career best of 1:54. Trevor Ritchie, who is no stranger to winning American National titles here at Balmoral Park, will head in from Canada to drive for trainer Per Henriksen.

The “local” hopes will be carried by Turndorf Racing’s Maxter who has completely dominated the state-bred trotting ranks in each of his first two seasons. After putting together a sparkling record of 7-5-3 in 17 starts last year the Roger Welch trained son of Valley Victor picked up right where he left off posting an amazing slate of 10-3-0 in 14 starts this season. A lifetime winner almost $305,000 Maxter will have the services of driver Brent Holland on Saturday. 

Completing the field for the colt trot are Gallantly, Big Boy Lloyd, Surtees Hanover, Pine After Pine, Cloud Casino, Over Ruled, Frisk’em and Kajan Kooker.

Also on tap on the big 14-race card that gets underway at 7:20 p.m. (CDT) is a very impressive $18,000 Free For All featuring the likes of Coldheartedrevenge, last week’s FFA winner in 1:49.4, My Boy David, who took this event two weeks ago in 1:50.3 over a sloppy track, and Booze Cruzin, a winner here in 1:50 on August 9. (Balmoral Park)

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