Super Night Elims held at Balmoral

The countdown to Illinois biggest night of racing, Super Night 2008, began in earnest on Saturday night as elimination events for the Filly Orange & Blue, Orange & Blue, Grandma Ann & Pete Langley Memorial Stakes were contested. Despite the fact that the track was listed as sloppy after two straight days of heavy rains the racing surface held up remarkably well and there were still plenty of quick miles from the Prairie State’s top 2 and 3-year-old  pacers. 

A total of 29 2-year-old pacing fillies were entered for the Filly Orange & Blue necessitating three eliminations. The top three finishers in each division along with one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) get the chance to move on to next week’s $280,000 (est.) final.

Dispatched at odds of 8-1 the homebred daughter of JT Western-Start To Cruise rallied from eighth at the half-mile mark for driver Del Chupp picking off the tiring leaders with a 28.1 final quarter to record her second win in six lifetime starts. You Never Let Go (Brandon Simpson) was second while Park Lane Rhythm (Andy Miller) finished third. Honey’s Luck (Brent Holland), the 4-5 favorite who was responsible for the brisk early pace, faded to fourth.

Things went as predicted in the final division as Shim Racing, John Carver & Bert Hochsprung’s Right Right, the 4-5 favorite in the race, cruised to a 1-1/4 length verdict in 1:53.1 for driver Andy Miller.

The entry box was overflowing for the Orange & Blue elimination’s as a total of 38 colts and geldings were sent postward in four elimination battles. The top two finishers in each race plus two third place finishers (drawn by lot) will be back next Saturday to go for a purse of $260,000 (est.).

In the first division the Joel Smith owned and trained Successfully Rich took advantage of a golden two-hole trip in route to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:54.4.

Perfectly positioned by Brent Holland this son of Richess Hanover-Incredible Success sat right on the back of the pace setting SmellTheColornine (Marcus Miller) before charging up the inside of the tiring leader for his second career victory. Oliver Brown (Sam Widger) uncorked a big late move to finish second while Richie The Clown (Josh Sutton) finished third.

In the second division Z Tam Racing, David McCaffrey & Mr. C Stables The Classic Z Tam survived some brisk early fractions to post a gritty neck decision in 1:53.3.

Confidently handled by Hall of Famer Dave Magee this son of Cole Muffler-Cannae Steffi was used twice before the field had even reached the half-mile marker. Despite the brutal 54.4 opening half the 2-5 favorite still had enough left in the tank to hold off the challenge of My Boy Luke (Brent Holland) through a thrilling stretch drive. Doubletrouble (Brandon Simpson) rallied late to finish third.

The third division also went to the “chalk” as Harvey Eisman’s Grandma Jan’s Max gave Brent Holland another Super Night elimination win with a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:54.2.

Kept well off a torrid three-quarters of 1:23.4 this son of Richess Hanover-Jan’s Julie Too swung three wide as the field turned for home. Moving swiftly on the far outside the Erv Miller trainee quickly swallowed up the tiring leaders in the lane for his third win in eight starts. Texas Playboy (Sam Widger) rallied late to finish second while Fox Valley Seth (Todd Warren) was third.

The nightcap turned into a stroll in the park for the heavily favored Enzo The Baker as the Dave McCaffrey trainee romped home by six lengths in 1:53.2.

Backed to the near exclusion of his eight rivals, the son of Cole Muffler-Shessoluvabull gradually worked his way up to the leaders while first over for driver Dave Magee. After drawing even at the top of the stretch the 1-9 favorite then shifted into another gear as he cruised to his fourth win in six career starts. JimmyCrackedcorn (Sam Widger) rallied to be second while Big Party (Brandon Simpson) was third.
 
A total of 26 sophomore pacing fillies were dropped into the box for the Grandma Ann Eliminations necessitating a three-way split. Once again the top three in each elimination along with one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) will move on to the $200,000 (est.) final next week.

The opening elimination provided yet another upset on the rain soaked oval as Orville Rursch’s Impressive Char turned in a gritty performance to win by a nose in 1:53.3.

Sweeping to the top just after the quarter-mile mark for driver Mike Oosting this daughter of Cole Muffler-Lake Hills Mama was never seriously threatened as she paced to her ninth win in 24 starts this season. Towne’s Party Girl (Dave Magee) used a nice second over journey to grab the place spot. Third place finisher Westside Gritty (Brent Holland), the 3-5 favorite in the race, made a nasty break just after the half-mile pole interfering with eventual sixth place finisher Crusin Crimson which resulted in the disqualification of the heavy favorite. That DQ moved Lalique Lady (Andy Miller) into the show spot while Dingy’s Model (Dale Hiteman) was moved up to fourth.

In the final elimination last years Filly Orange & Blue winner Kelly’s Keepsake kept her hopes of becoming a two-time Super Night winner alive with a thrilling nose decision in 1:53.3.

Moving first over for the final five-eighths of a mile with driver Andy Miller in tow the daughter of Sportsmaster-C Suzabelle appeared to be beaten with less than 100 yards to go but the Erv Miller trainee found something extra and was able to poke a nose in front of 36-1 outsider I Y Q (Mike Oosting) in the last stride. She’s So Hot (Dave Magee) finish third while the pace setting She’s Not (Del Chupp) was fourth.

Sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the race Kelly’s Keepsake now boasts eight wins in 14 starts this season for owners Jack & Peggy Hood, Mystical Marker Farms and Kenneth Duffy.

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