Sporty fastest at Balmoral

Racing fans got their first look at this year’s Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old filly pacing crop as a total of 13 youngsters met in a pair of $5,000 Egyptian Grande Stake divisions, with Dingy's Model and I'm All Sport came up victorious.

In the opener, James and Terri Blackman’s homebred Dingy’s Model came flying down the lane to win her debut by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.4. Patiently handled like a youngster should be by driver Sam Widger, this daughter of Armbro Mackintosh sat sixth and last as Laffy Taffy (Ryan Anderson) and Ali Cat (Dave Magee) traded turns on the lead. Despite the battle for early command the fractions were not that brisk as the two fillies moved through splits of :31 and 1:01.3.

Heading around the final bend Widger had his filly on the move and she was up to fourth, just 3 ¼ lengths behind the pacesetting Ali Cat as she hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:31.3. Through the lane the Martin Brimmer trained miss found her best stride roaring home in a brisk :27.3 to blow right by her rivals. Ali Cat hung on gamely for second while Sienna Blue (Homer Hochstetler) shook loose late to finish third.

The nightcap provided a shocking upset as another Martin Brimmer trainee, I’m All Sporty, lit up the tote board with a $60 win mutuel as she rolled to a half-length triumph in a brisk 1:58.

Employing the same tactics as her barn mate, the homebred daughter of Sportsmaster was reserved in sixth through opening splits of :28.4 and :58.1. Driver Jason Dillander then positioned the bay miss into a live outer flow as the girls headed around the far turn. Although she was still pacing in sixth, I’m All Sporty was just 4 ½ lengths from the front, as Mokey (Anderson) led the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4.

Moving to the far outside of her rivals I’m All Sporty looked like a filly on a mission as she picked off one rival after another with a :28.1 closing split to get the victory. Roan Rivers (Magee) was a nice second while Mokey held on for third.  

Owned by Bart Seales and Angie Nessa, I’m All Sporty had a fourth-place finish in DuQuoin prior to shipping up to Crete for Wednesday’s battle. (Balmoral Park)  

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