from the USTA Communications Department

Springfield, IL — The first of two days of Grand Circuit racing action kicked off on Monday (Aug. 12) at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

Freshman trotters opened the action on Monday in the $43,000 Review Stakes, a race for both colts and fillies. The ladies took the top four spots as Dancing Dynamite bested her stablemate Pinking Of You by 5-1/4 lengths in a time of 1:57.2. Chantilly Hall was third and Vacations Pride finished fourth.

Part of a three-horse entry for trainer Trenton Watson, Dancing Dynamite (Explosive Matter-Horizontal Mombo) got away second as Chantilly Hall and driver Dave Magee cut early fractions of :29.1 and :58.4.

Driver Dean Magee took Dancing Dynamite to the front on the backstretch and she was up by two lengths at the 1:29.1 three-quarter pole. From there the winner trotted a final quarter in :28.1 to hit the finish line on top in 1:57.2.

Owned by Richard Hess and Watson Stable, the win was the first in four lifetime starts for Dancing Dynamite, who returned $3.40 to win. She has now earned $11,550 lifetime.

Ideal Helen and driver Marcus Miller took over the lead at the half-mile marker in the $26,500 Review Stake for 2-year-old filly pacers and were never caught in a 1:54.3 mile, with a dazzling final quarter in :25.4.

The Western Ideal-Armbro Nectarine lass won for the second time in six career starts for trainer Erv Miller and breeder/owner D. R. Van Witzenburg. She has now banked $40,480 in 2013.

After sitting second in an opening quarter of :28.2, Marcus Miller sent Ideal Helen to the point and she cut middle fractions of :58.4 and 1:28.4 while opening up five lengths on the field. The final margin of victory was 7-1/4 lengths over Hello My Dream (Mike Oosting). Marzy Bearzy was third for Casey Leonard.

As the overwhelming favorite, Ideal Helen paid $3.20 to win.

The $20,000 Review Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers was the final Grand Circuit stake on the card and was captured by Keiths Studio Art in a personal best time of 1:53.2. Like Ideal Helen, he also paced a last quarter in a sizzling :25.4.

Trainer/driver Michael Cox got the Wearable Art-Studio Nine gelding away fourth from the rail in an opening panel of :28.2 set by Gator Boy and driver Marcus Miller. Theindecentlawyer (Casey Leonard) was the new leader at the :57.3 half-mile marker, relegating Gator Boy to second with Keiths Studio Art now third.

But as the field headed to the three-quarter pole, Cox had Keiths Studio Art on the move first over and they were a half-length in front by the third station in 1:27.3. The eventual winner opened up three lengths by the top of the stretch and was on top by four at the wire. Theindecentlawyer held on for second with Gator Boy third.

Owned by Melvin Schoneweis and Lyle Lipe, the victory was the second in four lifetime starts for Keiths Studio Art, who has now banked $21,925. Sent off at odds of 3-10, he returned $2.60 to win.

Review Stakes action for 3-year-old pacers and trotters will take place on Tuesday afternoon.