from the USTA Communications Department
Springfield, IL — The Grand Circuit rolled into Springfield on Tuesday (August 16) with six Review Stakes on the afternoon program at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Dave Magee piloted Boi to a 1:50.3 score in the $36,000 Review Stakes for sophomore pacers.
The fastest mile of the Grand Circuit stakes was recorded by the 3-year-old pacing gelding Boi, who scored in a lifetime best 1:50.3 in the $36,000 Review Stakes for sophomore pacers.
Dave Magee was in the bike for trainer Rick Schrock as the son of Sportsmaster-Rachel Hanover took over the lead at the :54.1 half-mile marker and was never caught as he held off Onhishonor Hanover by three-quarters of a length. Cole Heat finished third.
Boi was a winner for the second time in eight starts this year, raising his 2011 bankroll to $51,990. He is owned by Jodi Siamis.
In the $35,000 Review Stakes for freshman colt and filly trotters, Mary Jane Anderson’s Aunt Mel took advantage of a three hole trip in posting a 2:00.1 score. Marcus Miller drove for his father, trainer Erv Miller, as the Yankee Glide-Kimmie Hall filly posted a one length victory over Battlefield Blvd and Dan Noble. Windy Valley Lady was third.
Aunt Mel broke her maiden with the victory and lifted her earnings to $31,800 in five lifetime starts.
Polar Opposition was a 1:56.1 winner in her career debut.
Polar Opposition (Rocknroll Hanover-Loyal Opposition) made it back-to-back Review Stakes victories for Marcus and Erv Miller as the freshman pacing filly scored in a time of 1:56.1 in the $18,000 2-year-old filly pace in her first liftetime start.
Polar Opposition took the lead at the opening quarter in :30.2, then yielded to Jenna Jen who cut middle fractions of 1:00 and 1:28.3. However, Jenna Jen made a break at the three-quarter pole, which allowed Polar Opposition to regain the front end.
She paced a final quarter in :27.2 to reach the wire in 1:56.1, 4-1/2 lengths ahead of Lima Daydream. Jenna W Rivndel was third while Jenna Jen wound up sixth and last with broken equipment.
The winner is a homebred who is owned by Diamond Creek Farm.
The $22,000 Review Stakes for freshman pacing colts resulted in a tight two-horse finish between a pair of horses from the Steve Carter Stable.
Sgt Matt and Tyler Smith cut the fractions in this race, putting up splits of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:28.3 with stablemate Caviart Key (Dan Noble) enjoying the pocket trip. As the field entered the stretch, Noble pulled Caviart Key out of the pocket and he outdueled the leader to post a half-length victory in a time of 1:54.4. Pure Smoke grabbed the show dough.
Caviart Key is a 2-year-old Ponder-Dee’s Shark gelding. He is owned by trainer Steve Carter in partnership with Peggy Carter, Robert Reid and Chuck Grubbs. He was a winner for the third time in five lifetime starts and lifted his bankroll to $26,560.
Timothy M. Jones photos
Erv Miller piloted Swan In A Million to a 1:55.2 victory in the 3-year-old colt trot.
The $20,000 Review Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters saw Patrick Graham’s Caitrin Hall defeat Caviar’s Delight by 1-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:55.1. Swing Anna Cash finished third.
The winner is a daughter of Tom Ridge-CR Oh Suzanna. She is trained by Leo Grummel and was driven to victory by Michael Cox as the overwhelming 2-5 favorite. Caitrin Hall took her lifetime earnings over the $200,000 plateau with the victory.
Rounding out the Review Stakes action on Tuesday was the $20,000 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. In that race, trainer Erv Miller made a rare appearance in the bike as he piloted Swan In A Million to a 1:55.2 victory in front end fashion. The Andover Hall-Swan Lake colt scored by three-quarters of a length over Ax Man, with favored Audition finishing third.
Swan In A Million is owned by Diamond Creek Farm, Mary Jane Anderson and Mystical Marker Farms LLC. The victory was his first in six starts this year and improved his 2011 bankroll to $25,337.