by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — After a big Saturday night which featured five Hanover Stakes, the action continued on Sunday (June 17) at Balmoral Park as a total of 20 sophomore trotting fillies were sent to battle in a pair of $27,050 splits.

The $15,000 Mini Me Stake for freshman pacing colts and the $5,000 Fox Valley Evita for Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old trotting fillies kept the furious Father’s Day program going strong. The Billings Amateur Driving Series also paid a visit to Crete for a non-wagering affair before the start of the regular 12-race card.

Sun Sentinel had no trouble winning Sunday’s first division of the Hanover Stake.

In the opening division of the Hanover, DM Stables’ Sun Sentinel, the 1-2 favorite in the race, trotted by her rivals in the lane to record a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:56.4.

The royally bred daughter of Winky’s Goal was unhurried through the opening part of the race, sitting patiently in fourth as Showmeyourmuscles (Jason Dillander) trotted along steadily through opening splits of :27.4 and :57.1.

Heading around the turn, driver Dave Magee decided it was time to roll and the Bobby Brower trained miss responded beautifully, moving to within three lengths of the leader, as they rolled past the three-quarter-mile station in 1:27.4.

In the lane a game Showmeyourmuscles was all out to hold on to her lead, but the heavy favorite had the pacesetter right where she wanted her. With a sixteenth of a mile to trot Sun Sentinel was in full stride, blowing right by Showmeyourmuscles to record her third win in as many starts this season. Linda’s First Love (Charlie Norris), a 30-1 outsider, turned a ground saving trip into a third place check.

With the victory Sun Sentinel now boasts career earnings of $104,000 for her Florida based owners.

In the nightcap, Lawrence Gary’s up and coming sophomore Society Hall continued to impress on the local scene as she posted a big come from behind win in a career best of 1:56.3.

Balmoral Park photos

Society Hall and driver Jason Dillander teamed up to win the second division of Sunday’s Hanover Stake.

Nicely handled by driver Jason Dillander, the daughter of Conway Hall raced in mid-pack as hometown hero Mogo On the Gogogo (Dave Magee) trotted through a soft opening half of :59.

Heading around the final turn Dillander positioned his charge in a perfect second over position following the cover of Real Hope (D.R. Ackerman) as the ladies hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.2.

Mogo On the Gogogo continued to lead through the lane, but a determined Society Hall continued to grind away on the outside of horses. Still facing a 2-1/2 length deficit with an eighth of a mile to go, Society Hall seemed to find another gear. Digging in with long fluid strides the Todd LaFountaine trainee finally wore down the pacesetter, using a :28.4 final quarter to win by a widening one length. Mogo On The Gogogo had to settle for being the bridesmaid, while 70-1 shot Vapor Rises (Dean Magee) came on to be third.

The $15,000 Mini Me Stake produced an impressive performance as Wayne Puckett’s homebred Aint No Hearsay went wire-to-wire in a sharp 1:54.4.

Given a confident steer by the red-hot Ryan Anderson, Aint No Hearsay shot right to the top from post position seven. After being parked through most of a :28.2 opening quarter the son of Final Cheers settled onto the backstretch with a 1-1/2 length lead.

Easily rolling along on the front end the Bob Phillips trained gelding carved out middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.3 for Anderson.

With the third quarter breather under his belt, Aint No Hearsay had plenty in reserve, turning back stretch challenges from Wesmokempeacepipe (Brandon Simpson) and Mucho Sleazy (Mike Oosting) to win by a half-length over those two.

The win was the fifth fastest mile of the year by a 2-year-old and was the first in three starts for this promising youngster.

The Fox Valley Evita Stake was nothing more than a stroll in the park for Blackfoot Farms’ Lil Bit Tuff as she grabbed command from the start and never looked back en route to a three length victory in her career debut.

Taking advantage of an inside starting spot, driver Dave Magee pointed the daughter of Vaporize right for the front, taking the field through an opening split of :31.3.

Moving well within herself on the backside and around the far turn, the Bob Phillips trained miss put up middle splits of 1:01.1 and 1:32.2.

With the Hall of Famer Magee sitting chilly in the bike through the lane, the issue was never in doubt as Lit Bit Tuff cruised under the wire in 2:02.2. Aunt Ellie (Sam Widger) used a strong :29.1 final panel to rally for second while Fox Valley Shannon (Robert Taylor) overcame a miscue in the first turn to finish third, 5-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

In the Billings event, Robert Troyer guided the 6-year-old mare Rubicella to a 2-1/4 length triumph in a career best of 1:58.2.

Sitting fourth as Michael Caston blazed through an opening half in :56.2 with No Mon No Fun, Troyer moved his charge to the outside midway around the final bend.

Quickly gobbling up the pacesetter, a first over Rubicella had opened up a three length lead by the mid-stretch call. With the rest of the competition battling for minor spoils the Ohio based Troyer had things well in hand as he cruised to the victory.

Robert Miller and Easy Chaser did a nice job of rallying from far back to be the runner-up, while Gene Miller and Rompaway Ulaine came on late to get the show dough. Caston and No Mon No Fun hung on for fourth while Michigan’s finest, Dale Zahn, guided Lookoutforleesa to a fifth place finish from post position 10.