Filly dies in Balmoral race

Three-year-old filly pacer Miss Cover Girl, trained by Paul Stafford of the Ken Rucker Stable, died at the finish line at the conclusion of the ninth race at Balmoral Park Tuesday night. The well-bred daughter of Blissfull Hall-Valadonna Hanover trailed the entire way for driver Todd Warren before collapsing at the wire in a 1:52.3 mile.

Miss Cover Girl, a half sister to Brother Joshua p, 1:50 ($326,356), Vakabesta p, 1:52.3 ($275,720) and Noble Senator p,3, 1:53.1f ($215,111), was a $25,000 yearling purchase by Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association president Marty Engle's Engle Stable and trainer Rucker's Rucker Stable. She was unraced at two and began her sophomore season this winter at Balmoral Park. She was then sent to the Meadowlands, where she earned her career mark of 1:54.3 in an overnight race April 12.

Rucker shipped his horses back to Chicago after he was barred from competing at the Meadowlands due to a positive test. This was Miss Cover Girl's third start since returning to the Prairie State, finishing sixth and fourth in her two previous efforts at Hawthorne. Overall, she had a record of 13-2-3-0 and earnings of $19,975.

Balmoral Park track spokesman Tom Kelley said a necropsy would be done on Miss Cover Girl to discover the cause of death.

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