by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-olds were in action on Saturday night (Sept. 26) at Balmoral Park as freshmen of both sexes battled in the $10,000 Thrifty Way and Yates Eagle Stakes. With an abundance of youngsters dropped into the box each stake was split into two divisions.

Fox Valley Naomi and driver Mike Oosting teamed up for a wire-to-wire win in the first of two divisions of the Thrifty Way Stake.

In the first division of the Thrifty Way, Fox Valley Naomi, the odds on choice in the race, stormed right to the front and made every call a winning one in 1:55.4.

Confidently handled by driver Mike Oosting, the daughter of Sportsmaster-No Uglies shot right to the top from post position two and proceeded to cruise through pedestrian splits of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:28 before uncorking a :27.4 final quarter to win it by 1-1/4 lengths. Makena Cat (Josh Sutton) turned a perfect pocket sitting trip into the second place check while Ribbons N Pearls (John Roberts) was third.

The win was the fourth in 11 starts this year for Fox Valley Naomi who now boasts earnings of $32,103 for the partnership of Buttice, Buttice, Norton and Santilli.

In the second division Ervin Miller Stables and Tanah Merah Farms’ Rolldownthehiway turned a garden trip into a two length victory in a lifetime best of 1:55.3.

Perfectly positioned right behind pacesetter Nice Big Star (Mike Cox) as that filly put up splits of :29.2, :58.1 and 1:27, driver Marcus Miller maneuvered Rolldownthehiway into the passing lane with an eighth of a mile to go and the daughter of Cole Muffler-Cambridge Lane responded nicely as she cruised by the leader to post her seventh win in 15 career starts. Lt’s Sporty Babe (Tyler Buter) shook loose late to rally for second while Delta Dawson was third.

The 2-1 co-favorite in the race now has $26,442 in earnings during her first season of racing.

Balmoral Park photos

Fox Valley Valkari rallied in the final strides to win the first division of the Yates Eagle Stake for Marcus Miller.

In the opening split of the Yates Eagle driver Marcus Miller found himself in the winner’s circle again as he guided Fox Valley Valkari to a thrilling head decision in a lifetime best of 1:55.

Allowed to settle near the back in the seven horse field as Fort Hamilton (Josh Sutton) and Ernie Miller (Dale Hiteman) slugged it out Miller was content to bide his time as the top two battled through opening splits of :28.4 and :56.4.

Getting underway from sixth as the field moved around the turn, Fox Valley Valkari was able to pick up cover from a first over Dynamo Blue (Tyler Buter) as Ernie Miller led the field past the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.

Swinging three wide from fourth as the field straightened for home the John Butenschoen trainee peeled off a :27.2 final quarter to nip the heavily favored Ernie Miller by a head in the final strides. Dynamo Blue was third.

The son of Sportsmaster-Veda Hanover now has three wins in 10 career starts with earnings of $13,108 for Stretch It Again Stable.

In the nightcap, Ray Hanna, Bryce Geiler and Jim Edgar’s Fox Valley Barbosa came charging through the lane to record a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:54.4.

Getting away fifth in the field of eight for driver Dale Hiteman, Fox Valley Barbosa saved ground the entire way as Speakrightomyheart (Mike Ooosting), the 1-5 favorite in the race, put up splits of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:27.

Still sitting fifth and searching for room as the field turned for home, Hiteman did a masterful job of maneuvering the son of Sportsmaster-Barberry Hanover off the pylons by the time the field reached the eighth pole.

Steadily gaining ground as Speakrightomyheart and Finance The Master (Josh Sutton) battled tooth and nail down the stretch Hiteman finally managed to urge the Ray Hanna trained gelding to the front, eventually zipping by the top two with a :27 final quarter to get the job done. Finance The Master was second while Speakrightomyheart was a disappointing third.

The victory was the fifth in 12 starts this year for Fox Valley Barbosa who has earned $21,641.