by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — State-bred trotting colts took center stage on Wednesday night (May 27) at Balmoral Park as a total of 16 diagonally gaited 3-year-olds squared off in a pair of $7,500 Cardinal Stake eliminations. The top five finishers in each split will return next week to slug it out in the $50,200 final.

In the opening split Definer overcame the outside starting spot in the field of eight to record a front stepping one length victory in 1:57.4.

Definer trotted to victory in Wednesday’s first Cardinal Stake elimination for 3-year-old trotting colts.

Taking advantage of a miscue in the first turn by the even-money favorite Dr McDreamy, Definer was trotting right alongside Thatswhatshesaid (Todd Warren) as those two moved by an opening quarter in :29.2. Continuing on his mission for the lead, driver Tyler Buter guided Definer over to the pylons midway down the backstretch and the pair were comfortably in front as they made their way by the half-way station in :58.4.

Around the final turn Definer continued to show the way as a first over Victor’s Story (Mike Oosting) came calling. Thatswhatshesaid was content to sit in the pocket while Dr McDreamy (Homer Hochstetler), who had made an amazing comeback by making up more than 20 lengths during the middle part of the race, was now a menacing fourth as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.4.

Through the lane a game Definer continued to keep his rivals at bay while trotting along on the front end. Dr McDreamy continued his amazing comeback as he rallied to wind up second while longshot Samuel Coe (Brandon Simpson) unleashed a late rally to finish third. The Way He Moves (Dave Magee) wound up fourth while Brickie McGuire (Dale Hiteman) was fifth.

After a pair of second place finishes to start the season Definer finally put a notch in the win column, returning $4.80, $2.40 and $2.10. The Kenny Collier trained son of Armbro Tropicana-Sue’s Sweet Shery now boasts career earnings of $148,484 on the strength of a 10-5-2 record in 18 starts.

The second division featured Claude Powers’ division champion Southern Rocketop. The son of Psychic Spirit-Summer In The City continued to keep his place atop the division as he toyed with his seven rivals en route to a 10-length romp in a national season’s best for a 3-year-old gelding of 1:55.

Balmoral Park photos

Southern Rocketop established a national season’s mark for a 3-year-old gelding trotter as he stopped the clock in 1:55.

Confidently handled by driver Brian Carpenter the Robert Taylor trainee stormed right to the front from post position three and was alone on the front as he cruised by an opening quarter in :28.2. Making it look like nothing more than a stroll in the park Southern Rocketop continued to increase his margin while trotting his way through middle splits of :58.1 and 1:26.4.

Letting it out a notch as the field turned for home Southern Rocketop quickly extended his lead to nine by the mid-stretch call. The issue was never in doubt at any point as he continued along with absolutely no urging from his pilot to win for the second time in as many starts this season. Welchkin (Dave Magee) finished a distant second while Sago (Tyler Buter) was third. Also earning spots in the final were Captain Ramius and Windy Joe.

Bet to the near exclusion of his rivals Southern Rocketop returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. He has now won 11 of 16 career starts with earnings of $162,720.