by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois’ finest 2-year-old trotting colts were on display Sunday night (September 30) at Balmoral Park as a field of 10 youngsters lined up behind the starting gate for the $130,000 Lincoln Land Stake Final.

Fresh off a convincing win in his elimination last week, Fox Valley Standardbreds and Jim Edgar’s Fox Valley Odyssey made it look easy again as he cruised to a convincing 1-3/4 length victory in a career best of 1:57.1.

Fox Valley Odyssey and driver Jason Dillander were in total control as they teamed up to capture Sunday’s $130,000 Lincoln Land Stake.

Just as he did last week, driver Jason Dillander gave the son of Vaporize a masterful steer again. Getting the jump on his main rivals, Dillander put the gas pedal down heading around the final turn and Fox Valley Odyssey opened up a five length advantage while his main rivals struggled to get around stalling traffic at the back of the pack.

Turning for home with an insurmountable advantage, the John Butenschoen trainee was on cruise control the rest of the way. The only issue that still remained was the order of the minor awards which went to Valley Speed (Brent Holland) and the heavily favored Maxter (Dave Magee).

On a late season roll, Fox Valley Odyssey now boasts four wins and three seconds in nine starts with earnings of almost $75,000.

Sophomore pacing fillies were also in action on Sunday night as a field of eight squared off in the $12,500 Direct Dottie Stake.

When the smoke cleared it was MJG Racing Stables, Hill View Enterprises and Louis Willinger’s Kiss Of Heaven who prevailed with an impressive come from behind victory in 1:53.1.

Balmoral Park/Ray Baldwin photos

Kiss Of Heaven overpowered seven rivals in Sunday’s $12,500 Direct Dottie Stake for sophomore pacing fillies.

After sitting in mid-pack as Sugar Park (Todd Warren) rattled off splits of :27.2 and :56.1, driver Brent Holland moved the 6-5 favorite first-over on the far turn. Ranging up strongly on the outside of her rivals, the daughter of Cole Muffler was just a head off the pacesetter as the two fillies reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:24.2.

Heading through the lane, a determined Sugar Park gamely tried to hold off the challenge from Kiss Of Heaven, but the Ervin Miller trained miss was simply too good as she drew clear in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by a length. Sugar Park turned in a solid effort to be the bridesmaid while There For Me (Mike Oosting) turned a ground saving trip into the show dough.

Kiss Of Heaven now has six wins, two seconds and one third in 12 start this year for over $66,000 in earnings.