by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — ISOBA Super Sale Stake action continued on Saturday night (Nov. 15) at Balmoral Park with a field of eight 2-year-old pacing colts going postward for a purse of $25,000. With most of the division leaders sitting it out for the remainder of the 2008 season this test figured to be a wide open affair from start to finish.

Balmoral Park photo

Fox Valley Seth held off a late challenge from an unlucky Smellthecolornine to win the $25,000 ISOBA Super Sale Stake in 1:54.3.

When all was said and done it was Cynthia Kay Willis and Sawgrass Farms’ Fox Valley Seth who continued a nice late season surge with a hard fought, half-length victory in 1:54.3.

Unhurried away from the gate, Fox Valley Seth settled in third as Wrigley Place (Trace Tetrick) led the field through an opening quarter in :28.2.

That lead was short lived though as Pure Defiancy hustled up from fourth to grab command as the field headed down the backside. That move prompted driver Dan Noble to get Fox Valley Seth underway and the son of Incredible Finale-Southwind Silk quickly swooped up to the top as the pacers reached the halfway point in :57.

After fighting off a challenge from Russ’s Ztam on the far turn, Fox Valley Seth enjoyed a 2-1/4 length advantage as the field reached the three-quarter-mile station in 1:24.

Through the lane a tired but determined Fox Valley Seth was all out as he gamely held off a late bid from an unlucky Smellthecolornine (Tyler Buter), who encountered traffic problems and wound up bottled up for just a bit too long, forcing him to settle for the runner-up role on this night. Pure Defiancy (Dale Hiteman) wound up third, just a length back.

A $14,000 yearling purchase, Fox Valley Seth now boasts a record of 4-4-1 in 14 career starts, with earnings of $57,863 for conditioner Nelson Willis.