by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Trotting enthusiasts are in for a treat in Saturday’s (Nov. 13) fourth race at Balmoral Park as two of North America’s top diagonally gaited specialists, Buck I St Pat and Enough Talk, will lead a compact field of five to the gate for the $124,000 American- National Older Trot.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Buck I St Pat will battle the boys in the American-National Older Trot.

Buck I St Pat comes into Saturday’s tilt as the number five rated horse in North America in the Breeders Crown/Hambletonian Standardbred poll. The 7-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse has shown no signs of slowing down with age, racking up eight victories, three seconds and four thirds this year while adding another $645,695 to a bankroll which now stands at a whopping $2,047,647.

With 48 career victories in 91 lifetime starts the Ron Burke trained Ohio bred checks into the American-National fresh off a victory in the Filly & Mare Allerage Stake at the Red Mile where she stopped the clock in a blistering 1:51.1, which was just a tick off her career best of 1:51, established at the Meadowlands earlier this year.

A two-time defending Breeders champion, Buck I St Pat has continued to amaze her conditioner and owners with her achievements.

“I really thought this would be her last year of racing but I’ll be the first to admit she’s been even better this year as a 7-year-old than she was last year,” said Burke. “I think as much as anything it’s the way she races. She likes to come from the back so she never gets stretched out or overexerts herself. She takes less work than any other horse in our barn and is actually more like a Thoroughbred than a Standardbred. She gets a lot of turn out time and recovery time after races and because of that she’s kept a great attitude and always comes back wanting to do her work.”

Enough Talk captured this event back in 2008 and the 7-year-old gelded son of Enjoy Lavec is also having a big 2010 season after struggling with injuries in 2009.

Named as the Older Horse Trotter of the Year in 2008 the pride of co-owner/conditioner Peter Kleinhans and co-owner Jerry Silva has bounced back this year by winning the Breeders Crown in 1:52 and his career numbers now stand at 32-14-16 in 88 starts with earnings of $1,778,993.

The only trotter in history to break the 1:50 barrier with his 1:49.3 clocking at Colonial Downs during his 5-year-old season, Enough Talk appears to be regaining his best form late in the 2010 campaign.

“His win in the Breeders Crown in October was his first since July 3,” commented Kleinhans. “He was sick for a couple of starts before that and he also had some foot problems so he wasn’t himself for awhile. Now it looks like he’s back in shape and staying at a good level so I expect a big try from him and I also expect to bring him back for his 8-year-old season.”