Star Swagger posts 1:59.4 ISOBA victory

Taking advantage of a short field of four and their inside starting spot, driver Mike Oosting sent Star Swagger right to the front and the filly remained in full command the entire way as she cruised to a 2-length victory in 1:59.4 in the $12,000 ISOBA Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies Tuesday night at Balmoral Park.

With the compact field content to race single file through leisurely splits of :29.4, 1:00.4 and 1:32.1 the Joel Smith-trained miss had no problem holding the pocket sitting JC Josie (Homer Hochstetler) at bay, trotting home in a snappy :27.3, to secure the victory. JC Josie was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Filly Hotspur (Del Chupp) was third.

Stating her case for divisional honors by posting her seventh win of the season this daughter of Valley Victor boasts earnings of $115,505 for owners Brianna Walton and Paula Smith.

Sam Bowie’s ultra-impressive sophomore trotter, Before He Cheats, shaved 2/5^ths of a second off his own track record for a 3-year-old gelding trotters with a 2 3/4-length victory in 1:53.3 in Tuesday’s $15,500 Open Trot.

Whisked away from post position five by Brandon Simpson this son of Valley Victor wound up parked through an opening quarter in :28.3.

Continuing on his mission for the lead the Dirk Simpson trainee made the top midway down the backstretch and the long striding gelding was in high gear as he flew past the half-mile station in :55.4.

Heading around the final turn Before He Cheats was forced to brace for a first-over challenge from Speed N The Tunnel (Dave Magee). Just a head separated these two as they rolled by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.

Through the lane Before He Cheats quickly put away the challenger, drawing clear by three lengths at the mid-stretch call. Receiving only mild urging from a confident Simpson Before He Cheats was on cruise control the rest of the way as he reported home with his 17^th victory of the season. Dink Adoo (Mike Oosting) rallied late to finish second while Speed N The Tunnel was third.

After being unraced as a 2 year old, this year’s Super Night hero in the Su Mac Lad now boasts a record of 17 wins and five seconds in 24 starts with earnings of $199,259. (Balmoral Park)

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