B Fly Mcqueen, Riccolo first Super Night winners

Illinois' Super Night 2012 got off to a rousing start on a beautiful Saturday night at Balmoral Park as John Barnard's B Fly Mcqueen posted a 29-1 shocker in the $116,000 Lady Ann Reed. In the next race, the $110,000 Su Mac Lad for 3-year-old colt trotters, there was no big surprise as Riccolo returned to Illinois and won in 1:56.4.

 

In the Lady Ann Reed for 3-year-old trotting fillies, B Fly Mcqueen was placed in mid-pack through the early going by driver Robert Smolin. The daughter of American Native-Blank Check was the first to pull after the opening quarter. "We had some luck with those early breakers and that allowed me to get away in a good spot,” said Smolin. "I wasn't thrilled with having to go first-over but it was starting to get jammed up a bit so I figured I'd better get out of there.”

 

After watching the pocket-sitting Fox Valley Lexus go offstride while he continued to move first-over on the turn, Smolin wound up with another turn of good luck as he wiggled his way right onto the back of pace-setting Maevey Gravy.

 

"Being able to get over to the pylons gave us time to get a little breather and it also left Rubys And Pearls out there with no cover which helped us a lot,” said a beaming Smolin. "She pretty much told me when it was time to go again in the stretch and then she just proceeded to trot right by Maevey Gravy."

 

The winning time was 1:57.1.

 

Proud owner John Barnard explained why the filly had been struggling before turning it around on Saturday night. "She's been sick for quite awhile but I know with her effort last week she was starting to come around,” said Barnard. "She trained well this week and we knew she had this kind of talent so we were just hoping she'd get it turned around tonight."

 

Maevey Gravy (Marcus Miller) held on gamely to finish second while Rubys And Pearls (Rick Schrock) was third. Miller drove Riccolo, who he drove regularly before the horse was sold and moved East.