by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-olds shared top billing on the Sunday night (Sept. 21) card at Balmoral Park as a pair of Super Night Stake consolations headlined the 10-race card.

Nino Marino and driver Dean Magee made every call a winning one in Sunday’s Su Mac Lad Stake consolation.

Trotters kicked off the action with a field of seven diagonally gaited sophomores squaring off in the $20,000 Su Mac Lad consolation. This test turned into a stroll in the park for Ron Marino and David Hermann’s Nino Marino as he stormed right to the front and never looked back in a three length victory. The final time was 1:56.1.

Confidently handled by driver Dean Magee, the gelded son of Pizzazzed-Charger’s Affair gunned to the top from post six and proceeded to put up splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1 while opening up a 5-1/2 length advantage at the top of the stretch.

On cruise control the rest of the way the Randy Tuftie trainee was never threatened as he reported home with his second win in 16 starts this season. Saint Simeon (Rick Schrock) rallied late to finish second while Photo Surprise (Todd Warren) was third.

David Baum photos

Dave Magee guided Molly Go Lightly to a front stepping score in the Grandma Ann Stake consolation.

The $21,900 Grandma Ann Stake consolation for 3-year-old pacing fillies also produced a wire-to-wire winner as Sawgrass Farms’ Molly Go Lightly bested six rivals by a half-length in 1:54 for driver Dave Magee.

Using an inside draw to perfection, Magee put the daughter of Lexington Legend-Waggle right on the front where she proceeded to step through splits of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1.

After opening up a three length advantage by the mid-stretch call the Nelson Willis trainee then held on gamely as a late rushing Fox Valley Shiver (Todd Warren) came charging late to get the place money. Kiwi Party (John De Long) finished third.

The win was the third in 15 starts this season for Molly Go Lightly, who now boasts career earnings of just over $98,000.