by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Better late than never was the motto for James Gleitsman and Donald and Scott Musillami’s Fox Valley Perdito on Saturday night (January 29) at Balmoral Park as the five-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster captured the $10,000 Fox Valley Redhot series final.

Fox Valley Perdito and driver Tony Morgan cruised to victory in Saturday night’s Fox Valley Redhot Series Final.

Moved back a week by the postponement of the Saturday, January 22 program, the layoff certainly did not hurt this mare as she exploded through the stretch with a :27.2 final split to win by one and three-quarter lengths in a career best of 1:54.3.

Given a perfect steer by driver Anthony Morgan, the Anthony Musillami trained miss was able to save ground throughout the opening half of the race before wearing down the pace setting Venturi Effect in the lane. Courage Of Love (Mike Oosting) rallied to be the bridesmaid while Nanny Withafanny (Dave Magee), the Maywood Park champion in this series, was forced to settle for the show dough.

The win was the second in three starts this season for Fox Valley Perdito, who now boasts $106,442 in career earnings.

Trotters were featured on Sunday night as two $7,500 divisions of leg two action in the Crete Trotting Series shared the spotlight.

In the opener the Antonino Buttitta owned, trained and driven gelding Greetings pulled off the upset in a career best of 1:55.4. Fiery Comet (Dale Hiteman), another outsider, came from far back to finish second while even money favorite and first round winner Rose Run Equal (Andy Miller) was third.

Royal Vic and driver Dave Magee teamed up to take a division of the Crete Trotting Series on Sunday night at Balmoral.

The nightcap went to the favorite as Claude Gendreau Stable’s Royal Vic and driver Dave Magee held safe for a one and one-quarter length triumph in a career best of 1:56.1. Kimberly Coe (Anthony Morgan) turned in a solid effort from an outside post to finish second while 33-1 longshot Eng-Amer Bobby (Mark Webster) wound up third via disqualification.

Series action continued on Tuesday, February 1 as filly and mare pacers met in the opening round of the Pacific Pacing Series. With 16 young ladies entered for the first round battle, the ladies were split into a pair of $5,500 divisions.

In the first division Alex Adam and William Rodosky’s Maddymollymacey picked a nice time to pick up her first career victory as she stormed home with a three-quarter length score in 1:55.4. The four-year-old daughter of Cape Crusader started her career with 18 straight defeats but had shown signs of readiness with a pair of runner-up performances leading up to this series. Booty Boo (Mike Oosting) turned a ground saving trip into a second place check while Saratoga Rose (Anthony Morgan), the 8-5 choice of the betting public, wound up third.

Chrissy Koeppen Photos

Ft Apache Annie gave driver Sam Widger and trainer Alex Adam a sweep of Tuesday’s opening round action in the Pacific Pacing Series at Balmoral Park.

Another Alex Adam trainee toted home the top honors in the nightcap as Margaret and Tracy Parke’s Ft Apache Annie rolled to a two length victory in 1:56 for driver Sam Widger. The Ft Apache Hanover three-year-old was whisked away from the gate by her pilot and after assuming command on the backstretch she was never really tested while posting her second career victory. Anita Wind (Anthony Morgan), the odds-on choice of the betting public, could only muster up a second place finish while Sally Blaze (Dirk Simpson) wound up third.