by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — With some good sized crowds filling the apron for a festive Memorial Day weekend of fun-filled activities at Balmoral Park, a pair of Illinois conceived and foaled stake events for 3-year-olds shared top billing on the racing oval.

Trotters grabbed the spotlight on Sunday (May 24) as a very evenly matched field of nine diagonally gaited fillies squared off in the $16,400 Violet Stake.

David Baum photo

Bi Polar Rose and driver Travis Seekman made every call a winning one while capturing Sunday’s Violet Stake in 1:57.3.

Continuing the fast start she’s enjoyed in her second season, Cynthia De Marlie and Jason Van Winkle’s Bi Polar Rose shot right to the top and proceeded to make every call a winning one as she reported home with a four length decision in a career best of 1:57.3 for Travis Seekman.

Gunned away from post six, the daughter of Polar Winner-I Still Owe carved out splits of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:28.4 while rolling along relatively unchallenged on the front end.

With plenty still in reserve, the Ronnie Roberts trained miss trotted home in :28.4 while drawing away from stretch challenges by Persuasive Look (Casey Leonard) and Fox Valley Yoko (John De Long) who wound up second and third, respectively.

Hammered at the betting windows, Bi Polar Rose returned $4.60, $3.00 and $2.40 while running her career record to 6-3-3 in 15 starts with earnings of $93,457.

On Saturday (May 23), a total of 12 state-bred colts and geldings met in a pair of $7,500 Cardinal Stake eliminations. The top five finishers in each division will return next Saturday night to battle in the $18,400 final.

In the first division the Dane May owned and trained Dinky Dune continued his second season improvement as he came charging through the passing lane to record a two length triumph in 1:53.4 for driver Pat Curtin.

Given a perfect steer, the gelded son of Duneside Perch-Dream Hand settled in third early on but as the pace slowed Curtin zipped the bay gelding to the front, leading the field through an opening quarter in :30.

The action continued to heat up through middle splits of :58 and 1:26.4 as a hard charging Dixie’s Boy (Casey Leonard) showed the way with Dinky Dune right on his back in second.

Through the lane Dixie’s Boy managed to fend off the first over challenge of 6-5 favorite Lucpark (Mike Oosting) but a fit and fresh Dinky Dune was full of pace and ready to roll as he moved down to the passing lane. Sealing the deal with a wicked :26.4 final quarter Dinky Dune cruised right on by the pacesetter to notch his second career win in eight starts. Lucpark came on again late to edge Dixie’s Boy for the place spot. Rockin Cassinova and Mighty Hot Shot also earned spots in next week’s final.

In the second elimination last year’s division leader Earndawg showed that he’s ready to defend his crown as he posted a very comfortable 1-1/2 length victory in 1:54.1 with Todd Warren at the controls.

After easing away from the gate in third while stablemate King Of The Swamp (Ridge Warren) led the field through opening splits of :28.4 and 58.2, the Roger Welch trained gelding grabbed command of the proceedings as the field moved around the final bend.

After taking the field by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.4 the son of Sportsmaster-Pacific Sister K gamely held off his rivals with an impressive :27.2 final quarter to notch his 10th win in 20 career starts for the partnership of Bo and Pat De Long and Ernest Miller. Frosty Dune (Casey Leonard) saved ground throughout, then rallied nicely to finish second while King Of The Swamp held on for third. Also gaining spots in the final were C Note and Comecatchme.

The 50 cent Pick-5 wager was not hit on Sunday, so there will be a carryover of $11,081.42 added to next Saturday’s (May 30) Pick-5. Because of the carryover Balmoral Park will guarantee a $25,000 pool for next Saturday’s Pick-5. Handicappers across North America can get a head start on their competition with free 10 line program pages for the guaranteed pool courtesy of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program and TrackMaster on the handicapping section at www.ustrotting.com beginning on Thursday (May 28).