Big payoffs for Balmoral 2YO winners

A stakes for Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacers produced big payoffs for those lucky enough to pick the winners Sunday night at Balmoral Park. In the first of the two divisions, Filled With Wonder eked out a neck victory in 1:56.3 and lit up the toteboard at $61.20. The second split was won by Fox Valley Mercury, who paid $31.60.

 

Filled With Wonder, a gelded son of Cole Muffler-Broadway Surprise, won the stretch battle with Little Pauli (Park Place-Vocalist), which took place with a blazing :26.3 final quarter. Todd Warren drove Filled With Wonder to the score for trainer Nelson Willis and owner Sawgrass Farms.

 

Fox Valley Mercury, a gelded son of Incredible Finale-Miss Bootsy, was a Hochsteter family production. Homer trains and drove the youngster to his 1:59 score, and also owns him in partnership with his wife, Connie, and their son, Jay.

 

Also of note, Fox Valley Mercury's dam, Miss Bootsy, is out of the Camtastic mare Dodger Girl, who is the dam of Dr. Alfonso, the runner-up to Fox Valley Mercury. Dodger Girl's richest offspring is Dr. Lon, a winner of $216,944, who also happened to win Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.