by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Saturday’s (September 22) $10,000 Yates Eagle Stake for Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacing colts at Balmoral Park provided a shocking finish as 80-1 longshot Fox Valley Ajax came bobbing and weaving through the stretch to win by a length in a career best of 1:53.

Balmoral Park photo

Fox Valley Ajax and driver Brandon Simpson found room late to pull off a shocking upset in Saturday’s Yates Eagle Stake.

Fashioned for youngsters that did not finish first or second in the Orange & Blue on Super Night, this stake figured to be a toss-up and it proved to be just that as the Tim Pinske trainee lit up the board with mutuels of $170.20, $29.80 and $11.40 while also keying a $5,465.20 trifecta payout.

Content to race at the back in the field of nine, driver Brandon Simpson swung outside on the far turn, moved to the center of the track in mid-stretch, then split horses with a rush in the final yards to pull off the shocker. Chevie Classic Rod (Dave Magee), the overwhelming 3-5 favorite in the race, was a hard trying second while Littlebitoflife (Ryan Anderson) was third.

The win was the first in seven career starts for the son of Richess Hanover, who is owned by Pinske Stables of Plato, Minnesota.

In other action on Saturday, Shirley LeVin’s My Boy David, the second place finisher in the Dan Patch Stake on Super Night, got back on the winning track with an impressive half-length triumph in a speedy 1:50.2.

The win was the fifth of the season for the Homer Hochstetler trainee, who was handled by regular pilot Ryan Anderson. The ultra consistent 4-year-old has racked up a whopping $1,039,475 during his illustrious career.

Sunday’s action is highlighted by the $17,000 Lady Ann Reed Consolation (non-wagering at 6:00 p.m.), a pair of $12,000 Lincoln Land Stake eliminations (races two and three), and two $10,000 divisions of the Thrifty Way Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies. First post is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CDT).