Hanover Stakes kick off busy weekend at Balmoral
July 9, 2004,by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — It will be a weekend of non-stop stakes action here at Balmoral Park as we draw closer to our 55-night hiatus which begins on July 15. On tap this Saturday evening are a pair of Hanover Stakes for two-year-old pacers and the Poplar Byrd Stake for three-year-old Illinois conceived and foaled colt pacers.
The prestigious Hanover Stake season kicks off with two-year-old colt and filly pacers squaring off. Both events drew an abundance of entries necessitating a split into two divisions for both sexes.
The ladies kick off the action in race two as a field of eight will slug it out for a purse of $32,800. This division shapes up as a two horse battle between Vandalay Racing’s Fox Valley Shaker, who has won three of her four career starts including an Active Donna V Stake elimination here on Tuesday in 1:554 and Deena Frost, Jerry Silva, Sampson Street Stable and TLP Stable’s Mississippi River, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake winner in 1:562 in her career debut last week.
Another field of eight will battle in the second division (race three) with Lester Banks and Bruce Johnson’s Sensuous Woman meriting the 5-2 morning line favoritism. The daughter of Cole Muffler has two seconds and a third through her first three career starts.
The first division of the colt action (race five) brings out a field of eight youngsters headed up by James Jesk and Cynthia Willis’ Lexington Legend, who debuted with a sparkling victory in 1:534 on July 1. That clocking makes the son of Jate Lobell the third fastest two-year-old colt in all of North America this season.
In the final Hanover split for the boys (race seven), Tanah Merah Farms’ Perdition will be the one to beat from his inside starting spot. This altered son of Richess Hanover is the fastest two-year-gelding in the country right now by virtue of his 1:541 clocking here on July 4.
Illinois bred sophomores will knock heads in the ninth race as a field of 12 goes postward in the $20,000 Poplar Byrd Stake.
A four part Hunt Harness Inc. and Pinske Stable owned entry of Resonate, Hot Bet, Enemy At The Gate and Crazy Art have been installed as the overwhelming 1-2 favorites by our odds maker.
Enemy At The Gate will be the main focus of the coupling as he looks to notch his sixth win in 10 starts this season. The Tom Simmons-trainee has been spectacular this season putting up a mark of 1:501 here at Balmoral while also proving that he can be a factor with “open” company by finishing third in last week’s $235,000 American-National Stake Final despite being parked the entire mile.
More Hanover action on Sunday
The 2004 Hanover Stakes season continues this Sunday evening as two-year-old trotters step into the spotlight. A total of 12 ladies were dropped into the entry box and they will go for a purse of $44,400 in Sunday’s third race while eight of their male counterparts will slug it out for $41,100 in the fifth race.
In the filly division, Ivan Sugg and Wilber Stoll Lang’s Lantern’s Lane could be the one to beat despite a starting spot in the second tier. This royally bred daughter of Lindy Lane captured her debut in grand style winning a Pennsylvania Sires Stake at the Meadows in 2:021.
Joseph Mullins’ Maple Grove Smoky is an unknown quantity as she makes her career debut but she certainly has been impressive in her two qualifying tests. This daughter of Donerail cruised to easy wins in Springfield and here at Balmoral, taking a mark of 2:003 in her latest prep.
The colt division figures to be a wide-open affair with Doug Ackerman’s Garth Vader figuring to merit a fair share of the betting attention. This Garland Lobell colt won the only start of his career back in May at the Red Mile. He tuned up for this encounter with a pair of qualifying efforts at Hazel Park and this outfit always seems to do well with young trotters.
Another to keep an eye on is the Illinois bred Stella’s Victory, who won his career debut here last week for owners Paula Smith, Ken Spurlock, Nancy Bowman and Horseman’s Financial Agency. The Brilliant Victory offspring circled the field in that triumph and drew off in the lane despite a very tough journey.
Robb Ranger Final on tap as well
Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-olds will be the focus of attention in Sunday’s seventh race as a field of 10 battles in the $12,000 Robb Ranger Stake Final.
Leading the way in this tussle will be the two elimination winners — Johns My Buddy and Danny’s Showboy.
Johns My Buddy made his career debut a winning one for owner John Iranian, Jr. as he rallied in the final strides to win by a hard fought nose in 1:55.
Lloyd Daulton and Stanley Tarvidas’ Danny’s Showboy was equally impressive, shaking off a miscue leaving the gate to win by a neck in 1:563 in his first career start.