Upsets in Balmoral stakes

A trio of Illinois conceived and foaled stakes events highlighted another fast-paced weekend of action at Balmoral Park. While the races provided plenty of thrilling results the “chalk” players walked away empty handed as all three battles produced upsets.

On Saturday, April 22, a field of 10 state-bred sophomore pacing colts hit the track for the $18,000 Direct Balance Stakes Final. Last season’s Orange & Blue champion Fox Valley Tribal was dispatched as the 8-5 favorite after a sharp win in her seasonal debut but it was another Fox Valley protégé, Fox Valley Cruiser, who emerged victorious in a snappy 1:52.2.

Racing in mid-pack as the favorite cut out fractions of 27.2, 56.3 & 1:25.3, driver Ryan Anderson did a marvelous job of saving ground before maneuvering his charge into a live outer flow on the far turn.

Sitting in fifth while second-over as the field turned for home, the Paul Stafford trainee then unleashed a wicked 26.2 final split as he blew by his rivals for a 1 ¼-length decision. Latte Tom (Lavern Hostetler) turned a perfect two-hole trip into the place check while Wonderful One (Mike Oosting) could not overcome post position 10 as he uncorked a big late move to grab the show dough. Fox Valley Tribal wound up fading to fourth.

Campaigned at the Meadowlands throughout the first seven starts of his 3-year-old season, Fox Valley Cruiser now sports a record of 3-2-1 this year with earnings of just over $27,000 for the Engel & Rucker Stables. The winner returned a handsome $26.60, $10.00 & $5.40 to his backers.

On Sunday evening a pair of Prairie State events were contested with aged pacing mares kicking off the action in the $18,000 Golden Miss Stakes. Just as she has so many times in the past, James Rowney’s Lou Annie continued to amaze everyone as she scored by 1 ¾ lengths in wire-to-wire fashion.

Beautifully rated by driver Ron Marsh, this 7-year-old daughter of Doc’s Hop took advantage of a compact field of six as she strolled through leisurely splits of 28.2, 56.4 & 1:25.0.

With the soft fractions under her belt, this career winner of more than $466,000 still had plenty in reserve as she gamely staved off the late bid of Parklane Powerful (Dale Hiteman) who was sent off as the overwhelming 2-5 favorite in the short field. Katie Belle (Ryan Anderson) saved ground throughout to finish third.

Despite all of her success in the ICF ranks Lou Annie still managed to return $12.40, $3.80 & $2.60 to her loyal backers as she proved victorious for the fourth time this year.

Rounding out the stakes action were 3-year-old pacing fillies as a field of nine met in the $18,000 Direct Balance Stakes.

Once again the favorite bit the dust in here as Sheryl Erickson’s up and coming star Bow Wow Wine exploded in the lane to win by a half-length in a career best of 1:53.1.

Bow Wow Wine was wisely reserved back in seventh place by driver Tim Tetrick as last year’s Filly Orange & Blue champion My Metallica, the 6-5 favorite in the race, battled this year’s undefeated sensation Street Dancer through splits of 28.1, 56.4, & 1:26.1.

With a seemingly insurmountable amount of ground to make up as the field turned for home, the Robin Schadt trainee then kicked it into another gear as she began reeling in the leaders. Flying home in a blistering 26.0, this daughter of The Big Dog flew made her rivals look like they were racing in quicksand as she flew right on by to pick up her first win as a sophomore. Longshot No Bark All Bite (Sam Widger), who went off at 38-1, turned in a big first-over effort to be the bridesmaid while Just Believe (Ryan Anderson) was a solid third. Street Dancer and My Metallica faded to fifth and sixth, respectively.

After a light 2-year-old season in which she posted two wins in six starts while being plagued by breaking problems Bow Wow Wine has now been first or second in three of her four starts in 2006. Returning mutuels of $13.80, $6.20 & $4.00 this filly helped key a $264.40 exacta payout.

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