by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Freshman trotting fillies were in action on Tuesday night (September 11) at Balmoral Park as a field of 10 youngsters battled for spots in next Tuesday’s $135,000 American-National Stake. The top eight finishers in the race will join Spread The Chips and Bether Always, who received byes into the final on an earnings basis.

Balmoral Park photo

Creamy Mimi and driver Andy Miller had no problem dispatching nine rivals in Tuesday’s American-National Stake elimination.

The elimination battle basically turned into a war of attrition with half the field making breaks by the time the field had reached the opening quarter-mile. When all was said and done it was Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld’s Creamy Mimi who came out on top as she rolled to a 2-3/4 length victory in 1:57.1.

Sent to the front by driver Andy Miller, this $165,000 yearling purchase was never seriously challenged as she strolled through splits of :30.2, :59.2 and 1:29.2 en route to her second win in three career starts. Along The Way (Mike Lachance) followed the winner’s every move but was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role, while Carolling (D.R. Ackerman) was third.

The draw for Super Night XIX was conducted before the Tuesday action kicked off.

In the $270,000 Orange & Blue for 2-year-old pacing colts, Ciara Stable and Michael Polansky’s Omaha Survivor could be the one to beat after drawing post position three for the final.

The $260,000 Filly Orange & Blue figures to be a heated battle from start to finish with elimination winners Biding My Time and Venusinbluejeans drawing the inside starting spots. Division leader She’s So Hot had luck on her side Tuesday night, earning one of the third place elimination spots in the final. The James and Donna Crebs trained miss will leave from post position five.

Fresh off a track record of 1:50.2 in her elimination, HBH Standardbreds’ Sportsfancy drew post position seven in the $174,000 Grandma Ann Final for 3-year-old filly pacers. Trendy L, who pulled off a shocking upset in the second Grandma Ann elimination, will be hard pressed to repeat that feat after drawing post position nine for the final.

Trainer Erv Miller sends out a five pack of pacers in the $170,000 Pete Langley Memorial Final for 3-year-old pacing colts. Leading the way for this powerhouse stable is Tanah Merah Farms’ Gotta Go Moe (post seven), who rallied from last to first to win his elimination in 1:51.2.

The $125,000 Dan Patch Final for older colt and gelding pacers will feature an eagerly awaited showdown between Clark and Marlene Fairley’s two-time defending champion King Johnny (post seven) and Redbud Stable and Michael McNeely’s red-hot 4-year-old Thisbigdogwillfight, who starts from post position three.

The $125,000 Ann Vonian Final looks to be a wide open event after elimination winners Indy Pendent Bay and Free drew post positions eight and 10, respectively. The classy Nanny Withafanny fared the best out of the main contenders, drawing post position four while the tough as nails Bobs Minute Maid drew post position nine.

On the trotting side of the docket, elimination winners Before He Cheats and Mystical Banker drew post positions five and eight, respectively, for the $120,000 Su Mac Lad Final. Both of these good looking diagonally gaited sophomore geldings are conditioned by Dirk Simpson.

The $100,000 Lady Ann Reed could also turn out to be a wild affair as the leading money earner in the field, JC Josie, will have to start from post position nine.

The non-stop 14-race card on Super Night gets underway with a special post time of 7:00 p.m. (CDT).