by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Fresh off a record setting performance here at Balmoral Park, John and Mary Krasnican’s Big Brad will square off against Circle City Stake winner Blatantly Best and seven others in Saturday’s $157,000 American-National 2-year-old colt pace.

Balmoral Park photo

Big Brad enters the American-National off a track record 1:51.1 score at Balmoral Park.

Big Brad etched his name into the Balmoral Park record books in his most recent start, taking the Crete Stake in a blistering 1:51.1. That clocking made him the fastest 2-year-old colt pacer in the storied history of the Crete oval, shattering the previous record which had been held by Yankee Cruiser.

Although that type of mile may have come as a surprise to many, trainer Bob Phillips knew that he had a special colt right from the start.

“He trained down very well and showed he was going to be a nice colt,” said Phillips. “The first time we qualified him he went in 2:00 with a last half in :55. The next week we qualified him in 1:59, but then he came up lame and it turned out he had a slab fracture in his knee.”

With some time off and plenty of care and attention from Phillips, Big Brad has returned with a vengeance, posting a record of three wins, one second and one third in just seven starts. Regular pilot Bobby Smolin, who guided the $11,000 yearling purchase to his record setting effort, has also been quick to praise the son of Henry Clay-One Sure Thing.

“He’s only had seven career starts and all of those have come over the past two months,” explained Smolin. “He’s still learning not to wait on horses but he’s definitely progressing. I don’t think we even saw his best the night he set the track record.”

Trainer Erv Miller sends Circle City champion Blatantly Best back to Balmoral and the royally bred son of Cambest–Garish figures to attract plenty of attention as well.

The first — and last — time we saw the $9,000 bargain buy at Balmoral Park was back in early August when the 2-year-old was making only his second career start for owners Mary Jane Anderson and Tim Towne. The race was in a series for non-winners of one lifetime and Blatantly Best gave a hint of things to come, racing first over while powering home in :27.2 to win in 1:55.3 with Marcus Miller in the bike.

After that it was off to The Red Mile where Blatantly Best posted two victories, including a lifetime best of 1:52.4 with Andy Miller at the controls in a Sept. 29 late closer. After a short rest and a qualifier here at Balmoral, Blatantly Best was back in action at Indiana Downs, taking the $83,000 Circle City despite a tough first over journey in 1:53.4 with Marcus Miller once again in the sulky.

“I really like the horse,” said Marcus Miller. “That winning mile at Indiana when he raced first over was a big effort. Blatantly Best has shown me he can take a lot of air. He definitely fits well in the American-National field. He isn’t a big horse but he is a very strong horse. He’s built very well and I think he’ll continue to be very successful.”

Always About Katey looks to continue dream season

After dominating the state of Indiana to the tune of nine wins and one third place finish in 11 starts, William C. and William P. DeLong and Katey McClymont’s Always About Katey retuns to the local scene, looking to continue an impressive start to her career when she faces five rivals in Saturday’s $113,000 American-National Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Balmoral Park photo

Always About Katey and driver Todd Warren posted an impressive come from behind score in the $53,900 Hanover for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

The connections of Always About Katey have been high on the daughter of Always A Virgin-Topville Cyberwave from the time they purchased her at the 2011 Hoosier Sale.

“From the moment we broke her, the first time we hitched her, we knew she was something special,” said Pat DeLong. “Her biggest asset is she takes care of herself. She still looks as good going into this race as the day we sent her down to Roger Welch to train her and that’s a tough thing for a 2-year-old filly to be able to do.”

The filly, who was sold under the name of Topville Classical as a $17,000 yearling, also underwent a name change thanks to Beau DeLong, said Welch.

“The DeLongs have an employee (Katey McClymont) who works at their food company and the filly’s name was changed on her behalf. She owns a 10 percent stake in the horse and it’s her first horse. That’s not a bad way to get into the game.”

The filly rewarded her owner’s faith in her by winning her career debut at Hoosier Park in easy fashion. One week later she stepped up to face “open” company in the $53,900 Hanover Stake here at Balmoral Park, where she cruised to another easy victory with Todd Warren at the controls.

It was back to the Hoosier State after that. Following a third place finish in an Indiana Sire Stake, Always About Katey rattled off three more wins, including a $200,000 ISS Gold final, giving her a pair of $200,000 finals in her first season. That victory really seemed to impress her conditioner.

“She’s just so tough, just so tough,” said Welch. “She was parked to the quarter in :27 and change with a half in :55.1 and still just paced away from the rest of the field in the stretch. She had every right in the world to pack it in but she didn’t. She just dug in and showed her class. She’s really a tough filly.”

The filly then went up against top class company in her latest start, going wire-to-wire in a 3-3/4 length triumph in the $75,000 Circle City, in which she stopped the clock in 1:53.4.