by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — The first Illinois conceived and foaled stake action of the year for 3-year-old trotting colts headlined Sunday night’s (April 18) Balmoral Park program as a field of eight were sent postward in the $9,000 Speedy Rodney Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

Wolf Creek Pass and driver Brian Carpenter were looking for rivals as they cruised under the finish line with a 1-1/4 length triumph in Sunday’s $9,000 Speedy Rodney Stake at Balmoral Park.

As is often the case in these early season tests a longshot emerged victorious as Steven Poore’s Wolf Creek Pass made up what looked to be an insurmountable deficit turning for home to win by a widening 1-1/4 lengths in a career best of 1:57 for driver Brian Carpenter at odds of 28-1.

Using the inside starting spot to their advantage, Carpenter and Wolf Creek Pass protected their early position as Guilty (Robert Smolin) and Muscatine (Dale Hiteman) both left alertly to challenge the pole sitter as the trotters moved through an opening quarter in :28.4. After allowing Guilty and Muscatine to trade blows on the front end Carpenter wound up following a hot-headed Leaveitonthetrack (Trace Tetrick), who had pulled from fourth, as the field reached the middle split in :58.3. Leaveitonthetrack and Tetrick then proceeded to open up a six length advantage as they trotted by the three-quarter mark in 1:27 but Carpenter was still content to grind it out as the field straightened for the money.

Confidently swinging to the outside as the field rolled through the lane, the Gerald Hanson trained Wolf Creek Pass quickly began to cut into the leader’s advantage as that gelding began to shorten stride. Taking dead aim on part of the 3-5 favored entry, this son of Psychic Spirit-Beloved Lobell uncorked an impressive :28.2 final split to open his second season with an eye catching victory. Showmeyourstuff (Marcus Miller) rallied from far back to finish second while Muscatine held on gamely for the show dough.

Despite posting an impressive record of 5-1-0 in seven starts last season, Wolf Creek Pass rewarded his backers with mutuels of $58.60, $8.60 and $3.40 while pushing his career earnings over the $17,000 mark.