Litigator sets career mark

The Illinois conceived and foaled sophomore trotting set was on display Tuesday night at Balmoral Park as a field of eight diagonally gaited colts and geldings were sent to battle in a $15,130 ISOBA Stake. Just as he’s done throughout most of his 2006 campaign Phillip Rietveld’s Litigator had no trouble disposing of his rivals as he trotted home with a two-length triumph in a career best of 1:54.4.

Perfectly handled by regular pilot Ryan Anderson, Litigator came away trotting in fourth as Fox Valley Hotrod (Tim Tetrick) and Earlivic (Homer Hochstetler) traded blows through an opening quarter in :28.2. Saving ground down the backside as the top two continued their heated battle Litigator was still sitting in fourth some eight lengths off the lead as the field hit the half-mile mark in :55.1.

Heading around the far turn Tetrick pulled Fox Valley Hotrod from the pocket providing cover for a hard charging Litigator who was gobbling up ground on the outside of horses. The battle was on from that point with just three lengths separating the top four trotters as they moved by the three-quarter mile mark in 1:25. Through the lane a game Earlivic continued to hold his rivals at bay. The first-over bid by Fox Valley Hotrod had begun to take its toll on that gelding prompting Anderson to tip Litigator off his cover with an eighth of a mile to trot.

Moving swiftly on the outside of horses the Roger Welch trainee quickly swallowed up the pacesetter as he cruised to his 12th win in 17 starts this season. AJ’S Send Money (Sam Widger), a 26-1 shot from the outside post position, came on late to pick up the place money while Adam Gram (Tom Graham Jr.) another outsider at 31-1, shook loose late to be third.

The division leader has pretty much put a lock on this crown by virtue of a sterling 12-1-1 record which has earned him over $167,000 this season. Bet to the exclusion of his eight rivals Litigator returned just $3, $2.40 & $2.10. (Balmoral Park)

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