Filly trotter overcomes post 10 to take Balmoral feature

Kept well off the early proceedings after drawing post position 10, driver Dave Magee had the daughter of Armbro Tropicana-Iceaprice in ninth as Princessfancyfeet (Jamaica Patton) and Fox Valley Lover (Dale Hiteman) battled through an opening quarter of :29.1. Heading down the backstretch Fox Valley Lover cleared to the top and was firmly in control as she led the field to the halfway station in :58.2.

Joining a developing outer flow as the field moved around the final turn Tropical Caprice had worked her way up to sixth while trotting fourth over as Fox Valley Lover continued to show the way by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:30.2.

In the lane a determined Fox Valley Lover continued to show the way. A first-over bid from Fox Valley Strata (Tyler Buter) began to stall as Queen Creek (Dean Magee) and Tropical Caprice took aim from the back of the pack.

Trotting home powerfully the Hamilton trainee finally collared the stubborn pacesetter in the closing yards and then held off the late rush of Overt (Josh Sutton) who came flying up the passing lane to just miss. Fox Valley Lover held on for third.

Trying to put a lock on what has been a wide-open division throughout most of the year, Tropical Caprice now sports a record of five wins, four seconds and five thirds in 15 starts with earnings of $113,349. The third choice in the wagering returned $7.80, $3.60 and $3.20. (Balmoral Park) 

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