by Kimberly Rinker, managing editor, Hoof Beats

Columbus, OH — Gotta Go Moe and Kings Road — both Langley Memorial elimination winners — face off in Saturday’s (September 15) $170,000 final that spotlights 3-year-old ICF pacing colts and geldings on Balmoral’s Super Night card.

These two geldings have a lot in common. Both hail from top stables, both are lightly raced, and both have been steered by two of Chicago’s best reinsmen.

Gotta Go Moe is the $54,960-winning son of Incredible Finale, conditioned by Erv Miller. He’s amassed eight career wins in 14 starts, with five of those victories and most of his money ($44,066) earned in 2007 for the Tanah Merah Farms LLC.

“He raced outstandingly in his Langley elimination,” regular pilot Brent Holland said. “His effort in there was even better than his race at Springfield.”

In August, Gotta Go Moe paced to a winning 1:49.3 mile for Holland while winning the $50,000 State Fair Colt Stakes Final at Springfield. He romped to a 1:51.2 clocking in his Langley elim.

“This horse has been good all year,” Holland continued. “Erv (trainer Miller) told me at the beginning of the year he thought this horse would do well this season. The horse really enjoys racing from behind, and I think a good fast first half by the others in the final would suit him just fine.”

Gotta Go Moe won his 2006 Orange & Blue elimination, but was scratched from the $285,000 Final, and retired for the remainder of his freshman season.

“He’s the type of horse that could get really keyed up if you wanted him to, but we haven’t really driven him that way, because we wanted to concentrate on keeping him relaxed and focused,” Holland stressed.

Balmoral Park photo

Kings Road will be looking to duplicate his winning effort in the Langley Memorial eliminations in Saturday’s final.

Kings Road, by Sportsmaster, is trained by Jim Eaton for owners Robert Silberberg and John Schwarz, Jr., and has earned $31,556. Raced nine times at 2 with one win, Kings Road showed signs of high speed, but was, according to Eaton, a “head case.”

“He’s a tough horse,” Eaton noted. “He pulls really bad, and I give a lot of credit to Dale (driver Hiteman) because he’s worked with this horse and has got him to be more manageable in a race. He always showed a lot of speed and ability.”

Hiteman kept Kings Road in the two-hole in his elim, then pulled out behind the leading All Is Saidanddone to best that rival by a half-length in a career best 1:51.1.

“The Langley elim was one of his best races ever,” Hiteman said. “He really raced super. I’ve tried to be patient with him and teach him how to race and conserve his energy.”