by Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park Publicity Department

CRETE, Ill. The spotlight of the harness world will be on Balmoral Park this Saturday, July 3 as many of harness racing’s greatest stars come to the Chicagoland oval to compete in the star studded card.

The most highly anticipated and publicized race on the card is race seven, the $86,000 Fairy Godmother Stake that brings out the greatest group of mares ever assembled in one race in Chicago. The race could be a show down between Breeders’ Crown champ Eternal Camnation, the richest pacing mare in the history of harness racing with earnings of over $3.5 million and Illinois-bred, Loyal Opposition, who is coming off her world record performance of 1:48.4 at the Meadowlands, the fastest race of all time by a female pacer. The all-star cast includes defending champion Artistic Vision and co-track record holders Parklane Powerful and Cinder Best.

The featured event, the first of three American Nationals, is the fifth race, the $235,000 3-Year-Old Pace featuring Provincial Cup champion Quik Pulse Mindale who is unbeaten in six starts this year against Burlington Champion, Georigia Pacific who has won three of his last four races in 1:49.4. Georgia Pacific has been established as the 8-5 morning line favorite from post four, while Quik Pulse Mindale is the 2-1 second choice from post 10.

Also on tap, the American National Three-Year-Old Filly Trot, which goes as race number one with a purse of $100,000. The likely favorite in this race is the Illinois-bred filly Fox Valley Flan. The Ervin Miller trainee has won 11 of 15 lifetime starts and will start from the rail as the even money morning line favorite.

In the third race, the American National Three-Year-Old Filly Pace, L & L Devisser sends out the brilliant filly Kikikatie who has been established as the 5-2 favorite from post position nine. The winner of 14 consecutive races last year, she is the reigning 2003 Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

Race number nine is a $22,000 Free For All, which features Illinois’ favorite son, Taser Gun, who is unbeaten this year at Balmoral Park. The ageless wonder is closing in on $1 million lifetime for trainer Robert Walker. Like a fine wine, Taser Gun seems to be getting better with age. His main competition is likely to come from Sagebrush for trainer Ken Rucker. The five-year-old pacer won last week’s Free For All in 1:49.1, which tied the record for the fastest mile ever at Balmoral Park.

The $50,000 Bal-Cal Pick Four returns on races 11 and 12 from Balmoral Park and Cal Expo. Race 12 has been carded at a distance of a mile and an eighth and will feature a field of 12, which is significant for those who are chasing the large jackpot. Also, seven Superfectas have been carded throughout the program.

Balmoral Park hopes you can join us at the track to see the nation’s finest horses and be a part of our greatest racing program of the year. First post is 7:40 p.m. CST.