Freshman trotters in Balmoral action

State-bred trotting colts took to the track on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a total of 13 diagonally gaited freshmen met in a pair of $5,000 Psychic Spirit Stake splits which were carded as non-wagering events.

In the first division the Mike Brink owned, trained and driven Rock Hollywood trotted right by his rivals in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:00.1.

Content to sit in mid-pack as Showmeyourstuff (Marcus Miller) put up splits of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1, Brink then picked up live cover from a first over Big Bucks (Homer Hochstetler) as the field hit the top of the stretch.

Tipping three wide off his cover the son of Psychic Spirit-Serafina The Great looked like a seasoned veteran as he cruised by the leaders to win his career debut. Kid Cormac (Dave Magee) benefited from a nice ground saving trip to get the place money while Showmeyourstuff held on for third.

The second division figured to be a showcase for the highly regarded Shore Road but the gelding made a break behind the gate once again and was never a factor as Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Rival went wire to wire in 2:00.

Hustled away from post position two by driver Brian Carpenter the son of International Chip-Reina Belle strolled through leisurely fractions of :31.1, 1:01.1 and 1:31 before finishing things off with a :29 final quarter to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Smoken Homer (J.D. Finn) came on late to finish second while Muscatine (Dale Hiteman) rallied for third. (Balmoral Park)

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