Fever to debut in Hanover

In the opener, Bart Seales and Angie Nessa’s I’m All Sporty, fresh off a 29-1 upset in the Egyptian Grande Stake, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite from post position five. Others to keep an eye on include Beachy Girl, who has a pair of winning qualifiers for trainer Joe Seekman, and Kelly’s Keepsake, who hails from the powerful barn of conditioner Ervin Miller.

The second division looks like a toss-up with a pair of hometown favorites Al Johnson’s Ali Cat and the Roger Welch-trained Mokey getting a big share of the betting public’s support.

Next up are the 2-year-old pacing colts with a total of 15 youngsters going postward for $26,000 in races five and six.

Rob and Tracie Rittoff, Mark De Vience and Gail Sanders' Ascot Cognac is the early favorite in here after a third-place finish in the Jimmy Sunshine Stake and a second place in last week’s Bingo Johnnie Stake.

In the second split, Mack Racing’s Youth Uprising, the co-holder of the fastest mile by a 2-year-old pacer this season, will look to make it two in a row after a big win in the Bingo Johnnie Stake to open his career. The main opposition figures to come from the Tom Harmer-trained Littlebitoflife who is a perfect two-for-two in his brief career.

The only Hanover trotting stake on the card comes in race eight as an overflow field of 11 vies for a $38,700 jackpot.

Included in this evenly-matched group are Kent Sherman’s Ohio Sire Stakes winner RUA Chip, who is a perfect two-for-two on the year, Scott Leaf and Kenneth Weckstein's Buck ID, another Ohio Sire Stakes victor, and Doug Ackerman’s Superior Judge, who boasts a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes win this season. The Dirk Simpson-trained Mystical Banker, this year’s Cardinal Stake winner, will carry the hometown hopes.

Another big field has been entered for the $53,300 three-year-old colt and gelding pace which has been carded as race nine. Gwinnie Lou Stables, James Davis and Earl Stryker’s Travis Lou, the Burlington Stakes runner-up last week and Steel A Mile LLC’s The Steelman, a recent winner in 1:51 on this oval, have been installed as the 7-2 and 4-1 choices, respectively.

The opener features the seasonal debut of L & L DeVisser, Sawgrass Farms and Helping Hands Stables' great 2-year-old Cabana Fever. The multiple stakes winning filly pocketed almost $360,000 in her first season including an American National Stake victory right here at Balmoral in her final start of the year.

The second division will put the top 3-year-old pacing filly in the state on display as HBH Standardbreds' Sportsfancy, a winner of five of her six starts this year, goes for yet another score. The Homer Hochstetler trainee is fresh off her victory in the $100,000 Maywood Pace. The daughter of Sportsmaster has racked up more than $217,000 in earnings and she has been made the even-money choice from post position one.

The Hanover action continues on Sunday with a pair of $27,050 splits for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

A pair of Illinois-bred ladies highlights the first division as Rose Between 2 Thorns JC Josie, this year's Violet Stake winner, and Blackfoot Farms' Mogo On The Gogogo, a multiple stakes as both a 2 and 3 year old, square off for the fifth straight week.

In the nightcap DM Stables' Sun Sentinel, a Kentucky Sire Stakes winner who is a perfect two-for-two this year, will have to contend with the likes of Mike Silber, Robert Rietveld, Paul Gibson and Roger Welch’s six-figure earner Victor’s Phantom who has really flourished under the watchful eye and guidance of Amy Welch.

On tap for  a busy Fathers Day card are the $15,000 Mini Me Stake for Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacing colts and the $5,000 Fox Valley Evita Stake for state-bred 2-year-old trotting fillies. The latter will go as a non-wagering event prior to the start of the 6:30 p.m. card.  The Billings Amateur Driving Championships also pays a visit to Crete on Sunday with that tussle being contested right after the Fox Valley Evita Stake. (Balmoral Park)

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