Cardinal and Violet elims

The Cardinal Stakes elimination proved to be a stroll in the park for Vapor Maker as he made every call a winning one in a career best of 1:57.4 at Balmoral Park Tuesday night, Oct. 3.

Under no urging whatsoever from driver Brent Holland, Vapor Maker trotted home in :29 to win by 5 ¾ lengths for co-owners Bruce & Dean Alexander and Connie & Homer Hochstetler. Homer Hochstetler trains the son of Vaporize.

No Jokin tried to follow the winner’s every move but proved to be no match for that gelding as he headed up the beaten brigade. Vics Mitch, who was saddled with the outside post in the field, came on late to finish third.

The top nine finishers in the race earned the right to join Oxford Brilliance in next week’s $50,000 final. Also moving on to the final with 4th through 9th place finishes were Red On The Head, Just Amos, Hannah’s Speedy, Orphan Victor and New Balance.

A total of 16 trotting fillies were dropped in the box for the Violet necessitating a pair of $7,500 tussles. The top five in each race received the chance to battle for $50,000 in next Tuesday’s final.

In the first split Dream Of Victoria continued on her late season roll as she trotted home with an easy 5 ¼-length romp in a new life mark of 1:59 for driver-trainer Roger Welch.

The daughter of Valley Victor is owned by John Kokinos & Daniel Lengacher.

Lovely Louann, an Indianapolis Downs invader, turned in a big effort to rally for second while Valle Berry was third. Also moving on to the final were Candy Gram and Tableau.

In the nightcap Blackfoot Farms Mogo On The Gogogo was just that as she flew through the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:59.

Dave Magee drove the Valley Victor filly for trainer John Butenshoen and owner Blackfoot Farms.

Gumcorner Flo turned in a solid effort to be the bridesmaid while Fox Valley Deja hung on for third. Victor’s Phantom, the Lady Lincoln Land Stake winner, overcame a miscue in the far turn to be a fast-closing fourth while Bandelin grabbed the last spot in the final with her fifth-place finish.

(Balmoral release)

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