by Kimberly Rinker, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Crete, IL — It would appear that driver John DeLong has a way with the ladies. At least the four-legged kind, that is.

On Saturday night (Sept. 13) DeLong will gather the lines behind three standout pacing distaffs on Illinois’ biggest evening that showcases Prairie-state youngsters: Super Night.

The 25-year-old Beloit, Wisconsin native, who began driving professionally in 2005, will be looking to score a repeat performance in the $118,000 Lorna Propes Championship with Let’s Go Higher, a 6-year-old Cole Muffler mare that he drove to victory in last year’s Propes Championship in 1:50.4.

Let’s Go Higher is owned by Jesse DeLong and has $407,925 in career earnings.

“She just a Cadillac to drive,” DeLong offered. “She’ll do anything you ask of her. I’ve driven her three times in the last three years and haven’t been beat, so that’s pretty indicative of who she is.”

Conditioned by Saratoga-based trainer Heidi Rohr, Let’s Go Higher is owned by John’s father Jesse DeLong and has $407,925 in career earnings. She won her Propes elimination for DeLong in 1:52.1 by 4-1/4 lengths.

“This mare has gone and far exceeded our expectations,” DeLong stressed. “I met Heidi when I went to the Meadowlands to race a few years ago and was impressed by the care she gave her horses, so we thought it would be a good plan to send this filly out to her, and it’s worked out great.”

It’s worked out not just great, but fantastically, for the DeLongs. In 2013, Let’s Go Higher was named Saratoga Horse of the Year and Distaff of the Year at that New York racing venue. She earned most of her $198,236 last season while racing on the New York circuit in the Filly and Mare Open classes, winning 14 of 37 starts in 2013.

Let’s Go Higher is the 12th foal out of the Abercrombie mare Ten Speed p,4,1:54 ($177,383) and is a full sister to Smellthecolornine p,4,1:51.4f ($446,742); Cole Combustion p,3,1:54 ($121,072); Only One Like You p,2,1:55.3 ($73,563) and Odds On Sarah p,4,1:53.3 ($53,365).

Interestingly enough, in the Propes Championship, Let’s Go Higher will face off against Party Hangover, p,1:51.1 ($296,261) whom DeLong steered to win the 2012 Grandma Ann Championship in 1:52, his very first Super Night crown.

Party Hangover Two is the aforementioned Party Hangover’s little sister, and will be competing in the $142,000 Grandma Ann Championship for 3-year-old pacing fillies for DeLong.

The Party At Artsplace sophomore finished fourth in her Grandma Ann prep, clocked in 1:55.2 with DeLong at the lines, who owns the filly in partnership with his father Jesse. Still looking for her first win of the season, Party Hangover Two has amassed $45,260 in lifetime earnings for the father and son team.

“She is just the worst luck horse that I’ve had in a long time,” DeLong noted. “The only time she drew inside this year was in the Hanover. She’s also had some breathing troubles and had a little bit of a sulking issue as well. She did get the four hole in the (Grandma Ann) final, and hopefully that will be a nice change. She’s had a lot of races where she’s only been a length or so off, and that gets to be a bit frustrating after a while.”

Party Hangover Two was bested only 1-3/4 lengths in her Grandma Ann prep, pacing her final panel in :27.3. She earned $34,796 as a freshman, winning three times in 12 starts last season.

She’s the tenth foal out of the Big Towner mare Maura Hanover p,3,1:58.3f ($5,280) and has half-siblings in Marlin Hanover (by Bettor’s Delight) p,1:53f ($99,148); Martele Hanover (by Rustler Hanover) p,1:59.1f ($20,887); Muldowney Hanover (by Cam’s Card Shark) p,1:54.2s ($20,200); and Card Shark De Vie (by Cam’s Card Shark) p,3,1:57.3h ($18,403).

David Baum photos

Sportsmuffler won her Orange & Blue elimination by 4-1/2 lengths.

Completing DeLong’s trifecta of side-wheeling females is the lightly-raced 2-year-old filly Sportsmuffler, who’ll go postward in the $162,000 Orange & Blue Filly Pace Championship for freshman pacing distaffs.

This daughter of Sportsmaster has raced just nine times this season, with six wins, two seconds and a third, with modest earnings of $27,899 and a career mark of 1:54.3 that she recorded en route to winning her Orange & Blue elim handily by 4-1/2 lengths.

“She really didn’t surprise me with that effort,” DeLong said. “I had driven her prior to that start once or twice at the fairs and we’ve been working to keep her quiet and in the elim, she minded her manners.”

Sportsmuffler had captured the $8,000 County Fair Challenge at Du Quoin on Aug. 24 in 1:55.2 by six lengths with DeLong in the bike, prior to her start at Balmoral last week. She’s notched post five in the Orange & Blue Final, facing off against the Erv Miller-trained Mr Leland’s Filly who won the other Orange & Blue elim in 1:56.1.

“She’s a very nice filly who belongs in that race,” DeLong stressed. “She gave a very good account of herself at Du Quoin and earlier at Springfield.”

Sportsmuffler is the first foal out of the Cole Muffler mare Whatifthere’smore p,3,2:00.4h ($11,789). She is owned by Jesse DeLong and the Hamm Family Trust.

DeLong scored his best season in the sulky in 2013, garnering 283 wins, 239 seconds and 235 thirds from 1,789 starters for $1,916,124 in earnings. He now has 1,182 winners who have earned $6,444,355.