by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — A weekend full of Betzotic Stakes continued on Sunday (May 5) at Balmoral Park as a field of nine Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old trotting fillies squared off in a $12,000 Betzotic Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

Sara The Spy made her first start for new owner-driver Todd Warren a winning one.

Continuing a nice early season run of success, Sara The Spy made her first start for owner-driver Todd Warren a winning one as she rolled to a convincing 4-1/4 length triumph in a lifetime best of 1:55.4.

A private acquisition by the Beecher, Ill., resident after opening her second season with a win in the Trotting Tilly Stake and a second place finish in the Koochie Stake, this daughter of Powerful Emotion-Sarabella was reserved through the early stages of this race as Powerful Goddess (Mike Cox) and Little Ms Chrissy (Robert Taylor) battled through opening splits of :30.2 and :59.2.

Having seen enough of the slow fractions, driver Dave Magee sent the heavily favored and highly regarded Trot Fudge Sundae up to challenge and last season’s 2-year-old champion in the Prairie State swept into command as the field trotted by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.3.

At that point Warren had moved Sara The Spy from seventh to third and the filly had a full head of steam as she straightened for the stretch drive. Moving like a freight train the Mike Croucher trained miss effortlessly swept past the 1-5 favorite, widening her margin through the final sixteenth of a mile as she scored for the second time in 11 lifetime starts. Just For Fun (Casey Leonard), who was following the winner’s every move rallied to be second while Trot Fudge Sundae was forced to settle for the show dough on this night.

After going winless in eight starts last year, Sara The Spy returned $16.20 and 7.20 in her victory on Sunday night. There was no show wagering on the race. The win also moved the filly’s career bankroll up to $26,252.