by Kimberly A. Rinker, for Balmoral Park

Editor’s Note: To view a video replay of this race, go to the Balmoral Park website, click Oct. 11 on the calendar, then select race nine.

Crete, IL — Creatine captured the $166,300 American-National Open Trot in a new Balmoral track record time of 1:51.3 with Dan Noble at the lines on Saturday (Oct. 11). The previous time of 1:51.4 was set by Sand Vic in 2006.

“Late in the stretch I went up in the inside and was able to get through,” said Noble. “I was in the two-hole for nearly all of the mile and was in trouble late, I was lucky to get through.”

David Baum photo

Creatine trotted the fastest mile ever at Balmoral Park, 1:51.3, in winning the American-National Open Trot.

Archangel (Yannick Gingras) took the lead quickly from post one, with Creatine taking advantage of post two and following closely on his heels to the :27 first quarter. Uncle Peter (David Miller) and Market Share (Tim Tetrick) were in close pursuit with positions unchanged though the :55.1 half.

Market Share was the first to pull, making his way slowly up to challenge the leaders to the 1:23 three-quarter marker. In the lane, Creatine finally shook loose behind Archangel and charged through the inside. Wishing Stone (Matt Kakaley) came flying late on the outside to get up for second, while Archangel held on for third.

When the numbers were posted, however, Creatine’s began flashing and it was nearly a ten-minute wait before the judges determined that the son of Andover Hall-Berry Nice Muscles-Muscles Yankee had only touched, but not gone inside, the pylons.

“I saw the number flashing there and was worried, but still thought the horse raced great,” said trainer Bob Stewart. “It was a similar trip as the one we got behind Spider Blue Chip last year when we finished second. It worked out better this year.”

The 4-year-old stallion is owned by Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, Pa., and now has $322,571 in seasonal earnings from three wins, three seconds and one third in 13 starts. Lifetime, he’s amassed 14 wins, nine seconds and three thirds in 37 trips postward, with $1,189,730.

Creatine is the second foal out of his dam and has half-siblings in Mister Anson (by Conway Hall) 2,2:00.4h ($158,011) and Strawbery Wine (by Kadabra) 4,1:56f ($101,285).