Merry High cruises at Balmoral

The three-year-old state-bred trotting set was showcased on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a field of seven diagonally gaited fillies met in the $9,000 Trotting Tilly Stake.

After a pair of so-so efforts to open her second season, Trenton & Brenda Watson’s Merry High certainly enjoyed the move back into the Illinois conceived and foaled ranks as she uncorked a wicked 26.4 final quarter to blow by her rivals for a 1 ¼ length triumph in 2:00.2.

Perfectly handled by catch-driver Mike Oosting, the daughter of High Falls-Merry Game sat near the back of the pack as the heavy favorite, Fox Valley Click (Dale Hiteman), led the field through leisurely splits of 31.1, 1:01.4 & 1:32.4.

With a five-length deficit to make up as the field turned for home, Oosting maneuvered the Trenton Watson trained miss to the outside and the bay filly responded beautifully as she picked off one rival after another in route to her seventh victory in 19 career starts. Fox Valley Click held on for second while Aunt Ginny (Brian Carpenter) survived a late miscue to finish third, some five lengths behind the winner.

Sent off as the second choice in the wagering as part of a Watson owned entry Merry High returned $4.60, $2.10 & $2.10 while pushing her career bankroll up to $33,063.(Balmoral)