by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Sarah Myers Stake action continued on Sunday (Oct. 18) at Balmoral Park with a total of 17 Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacing fillies slugging it out in a pair of $26,735 splits. On a night that was a “chalk” player’s delight these divisions fit right in as the 3-2 favorite Ellamakailey prevailed in the first division while 6-5 favorite Mystical Victress prevailed in the nightcap.

Mike Oosting guided Ellamakailey to a 1-1/4 length victory in the first division of Sunday’s Sarah Myers Stake.

Now under the guidance of conditioner Roger Welch for owner Steven Leita, Ellamakailey was hammered at the windows and the daughter of Park Place-Town Looker did not disappoint her legion of backers.

Watching the action from mid-pack as Rolldownthehiway (Marcus Miller) strolled through leisurely splits of :30 and 59.4, driver Mike Oosting moved Ellamakailey to the outside where she managed to pick up live cover from a first over Gypsys Little Star (Gary Rath) as the field moved into the far turn.

Midway around the final bend Oosting tipped his filly three wide and Ellamakailey responded nicely, drawing to within a length of the pacesetter, as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.4.

In the lane Ellamakailey quickly gobbled up Rolldownthehiway. Cruising home in :28 while receiving only mild encouragement from her pilot, Ellamakailey rolled under the wire with a 1-1/4 length decision in 1:57. Rolldownthehiway held on for second while Fox Valley Angie (Dale Hiteman) shook loose to finish third.

Now sporting a record of 6-4-2 in 16 starts, with earnings of $29,534, Ellamakailey returned $5.00, $3.40 and $2.60.

Despite a month away from the races Mystical Marker Farms’ Mystical Victress returned in tip top shape as she avenged her narrow loss to Fox Valley Oracle in the Filly Orange & Blue on Super Night with a 1-1/2 length triumph in 1:55.4 in Sunday’s second division of the Sarah Myers.

Balmoral Park photos

Mystical Victress returned to action in top form as she teamed up with Brandon Simpson to knock off eight rivals in Sunday’s second division of the Sarah Myers.

Given a confident steer by driver Brandon Simpson the daughter of Sportsmaster-Sneakheravalentine paced along in fifth as Things Left Unsaid (Todd Warren) showed the way through opening splits of :28.2 and :56.4.

Moving first over around the far turn the Erv Miller trainee was up to third as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.2.

Gradually wearing down the pacesetter, Simpson and Mystical Victress finally managed to draw even and then pulled away in the final sixteenth of a mile for the victory. Things Left Unsaid held on to be a game second while Fox Valley Oracle (Tyler Buter) overcame some early traffic problems to finish third.

The win was the seventh in 10 starts this year for Mystical Victress who has never failed to hit the board in her promising career. The good looking brown filly returned $4.40, $3.20 and $2.20 while pushing her career bankroll up to $132,426.