by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — The Herman Wheeler owned and trained Fox Valley Qatar made it eight straight wins to open his career as the good looking youngster cruised to a 3-1/2 length victory over nine other Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old trotting colts in Sunday’s (Sept. 28) $10,000 Lincoln Land Stake elimination at Balmoral Park. The final time was 1:57.4.

Placed in mid-pack after floating away from post seven for driver Todd Warren, the gelded son of Pizzazzed-Armbro Bahrain worked out a picture perfect journey, moving up second over as the diagonally gaited youngsters moved around the far turn.

Sitting just three lengths off the leaders as the field turned for home, Fox Valley Qatar unleashed a :28.3 final quarter, storming down the center of the racetrack to keep his unblemished record intact. RT Habanero (Dave Magee) used a nice ground saving trip to finish second while Captain Greedy (John Finn) rallied from far back to be a distant third, 7-1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Also gaining spots in the final were Powerful Above All, Vick Valor, Cruisin Valor, Arcs Conquest and Beginning Balance. They will be joined by Southerncomfortzone and Jake Quaider in next Sunday’s $97,000 final.

With the win Fox Valley Qatar, who returned $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10, now boasts career earnings of $65,375.