by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled trotters were back in the spotlight on Wednesday night (June 22) at Balmoral Park as a field of seven diagonally gaited 3-year-old colts battled in the $9,000 Niles OTB Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

Anthonyskywalker won for the sixth time in seven starts this year, knocking off six other 3-year-old trotting colts in Wednesday’s Niles OTB Stake.

As has been the case throughout the first six months of the 2011 season, South Of The Tracks’ Anthonyskywalker proved to be too much for his foes as he trotted away with a one length victory in 1:55.4 for driver Kyle Wilfong.

Perfectly positioned by Wilfong, who was sitting behind the son of Powerful Emotion-Queen Jamie for the first time, the bay gelding took advantage of a pocket sitting ride as Detailer (Robert Taylor) whizzed through splits of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27.2.

Fit and fresh off the perfect trip, the Homer Hochstetler trainee then proceeded to blow right by the pacesetter in the lane as he sealed the deal with a :28.1 final quarter to notch his sixth win in seven starts this season. GJ Photo Victory (Marcus Miller) rallied from far back to finish a fast closing second while Powerful Charger (Kyle Husted) used a ground saving journey to nab the show dough.

After going winless during his 2-year-old season, Anthonyskywalker has still managed to push his career earnings up to $59,127 with the outstanding start to his sophomore campaign.

Freshmen pacing fillies were also in action on Wednesday night as a field of seven youngsters squared off in the $11,000 Incredible Tillie Stake.

Despite a slight miscue in the late going Mystical Marker Farms, Mark Anderson and John Carver’s MJ’s Bid made every call a winning one in her career debut as she paced to a half-length victory in 2:00.

Using the inside starting spot to his full advantage driver Marcus Miller hustled the daughter of Cole Muffler-Rons Girl away from the gate. In command of the proceedings throughout splits of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:31.3, MJ’s Command then sprinted home in :28.2 to pick up the victory. Sleazy Does It (Robert Taylor) finished second while Constant Cheers (Robert Smolin) rallied to be third.