by Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park Publicity Department

In what should be a heated battle from start to finish a very evenly matched field of 10 of North America ‘s top older pacers will slug it out in the $250,000 American National Aged Pace.

Clifford Siegel, Lee Wasserman and John Fodera’s Boulder Creek, the two-time defending Breeders Crown Champion, has been installed as the 3-1 favorite in this race after an easy front stepping win in last week’s elimination action.

The five-year-old son of Pacific Rocket swept into the lead on the backstretch last week and then held off several challenges as he shook off a three week layoff to win in 1:51.1. Facing the best pacers in North America all season long, the Mark Silva trainee has put together a record of 6-6-2 in 23 starts while adding another $951,145 to a career bankroll which now stands at $2,183,266. Boulder Creek is also the fastest pacer in the field by virtue of his 1:48.1 clocking last year at the Meadowlands. Dale Hiteman will drive and Boulder Creek starts from post position four.

Jim Jesk’s Town Champion was extremely impressive in his elimination score as he split horses with a rush to win in 1:49.3 and he figures to garner plenty of support again on Saturday night.

That effort also came after nearly a month away from the races so don’t be surprised if the four-year-old son of The Panderosa is even sharper this evening. An eight-time winner this season, Town Champion became the overall track record holder at Hawthorne Race Course this summer when he tripped the timer in a career best of 1:48.2. Eric Ledford will handle the driving duties for his father Seldon who conditions this speedster and they are the 4-1 second choice in the morning line from their inside starting spot.

Venture 2000 Stables & Early Bird Stables Escape The Wind can come up with some huge miles at times and he is not to be overlooked from post position two.

This altered son of Artiscape is another who has spent the better part of the last two seasons battling the best older pacers in North America yet he has still managed to rack up 15 wins and his career bankroll now sits at $988,053. Trainer Roger Mayotte will also the handle the driving duties as usual.

Others who must be given careful consideration include Michel Polansky’s He Wants It All, a winner in 12 of 22 starts this season who owns a mark of 1:49.1; Perfect World Enterprises Timesareachanging, last season’s sophomore sensation who comes into this race with more than $1.4 million in earnings on his card; and Gordon Wright & Roger Welch’s Pokagon, who has blossomed late in his four-year-old season.

Completing the field are Sagebrush, Articulator, Foxy Maneuver, and Artiology.