After a busy Saturday night of elimination action for next weekend’s Southland Festival of Racing the countdown to the big weekend continued with three more elimination’s for state-bred pacers and trotters on Sunday.
The first elimination of the night featured Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old trotting fillies as a field of 10 was sent postward looking for spots in next week’s $44,000 Fox Valley Evita Stake. The top nine finishers will join KF’s Picture Perfect who was given a bye on a money-earned basis.
As was the case on Saturday night when he posted four elimination tallies, leading driver Mike Oosting continued to drive with a hot hand as he guided Trenton and Brenda Watson’s Merry High to a one-length victory in 1:57.2 to get the action started.
Powerful Bella (Marcus Miller) turned a ground-saving trip into a second-place finish while a pocket-sitting Claires Rose (Dave Magee) wound up third. Also gaining spots in the final were Fox Valley Click, Fox Valley Ripple, Southern Maebelle, St. Louis Holiday, Vapor Girl and Fox Valley Sienna.
Next up were sophomore pacing fillies as a field of 10 looked for seven openings in next week’s $56,000 Ann Vonian Stake final where they will be joined by leading money winners Cotton Candy, Fox Valley Dazzle and Fox Valley Oracle.
Taking home the top honors in this tussle was the Ervin-Miller trained Mystical Victress as she wound up making every call a winning one, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:53.3.
In complete control of the proceedings as she stepped through splits of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.4, the 11-time winner and driver Marcus Miller rebuffed a challenge from a first-over Rolldownthehiway (Oosting) at the top of the lane and then proceeded to cruise home with her third straight Balmoral Park triumph.
Rolldownthehiway was a game second while Ribbons N Pearls (Dave Magee) overcame some late traffic problems to grab the show dough. Also moving on to the final were Fox Valley Angie, Ellamakailey, Leanmean Normajean and Cole Blue.
The final elimination of the night featured 3-year-old trotting colts as a field of 10 looked for seven open spots in next week’s $46,000 Kadabra Stake.
Coming up big once again despite not getting the hype he deserves, Miranda Lyon and Paula Smith’s Muscatine unleashed a big closing kick to win by a length in a career best of 1:55. The son of Tequila Spur was driven by Dale Hiteman for trainer Joel Smith.
Powerful Speed (Todd Warren), came from far back to rally for the place spot while Big Bucks (Casey Leonard), who was dead last at the top of the stretch, rallied to be third. Super Sonic Flash, Run And Tell Pap, Dutch Commander and Somore Set also gained spots in next week’s final. (with files from Balmoral)
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