by Tim M. Jones
Springfield, IL — The 2004 edition of the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association Fall Review was held Saturday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. 14 races for two and three-year-old Illinois bred horses concluded the fair season.
The Review program got underway when Sandy Hart, with driver/trainer Ray Hanna, came from last at the :33.3 quarter to first under the wire in 2:08.2. The Smokey Legend two-year-old filly trotter made her ninth start a winning one for owners Paul and Charlotte Trenkle of Farmer City, Illinois.
The second division proved to be the fastest of two for freshman filly pacers when Linda’s Rose crossed the wire in 2:00.2. Capably handled by driver Mike Rogers, this Incredible Finale daughter stalked Curly Q Mouse (Tom Simmons) for three-quarters of the mile, and then brushed home in :27.4 for the win. Trained by Ervin Miller for owner Gene Dixon of Chambersburg, Illinois, her sixth start was her first win in 2004.
Two divisions of two-year-old colt trotters were up next on this chilly October’s day card. Again, the second division proved to be the fastest. Money Ball with driver Steve Halford raced first-over at the half in 1:01.2, with Fly Rite (Ray Gash) on the rail leading the way. Money Ball pulled ahead by a length and a half at the three-quarter pole in 1:31.2. A :30 cruise home for the Valley Victor colt earned him a 2:01.2 victory. Money Ball, who is trained by Steve Halford, is owned by Iris Horowitz of Brooklyn, New York.
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Cole Gram was a 1:56 winner for Tom Graham, Jr.
Two-year-old colt pacer Cole Gram, with Tom Graham, Jr. in the bike, turned in the fastest mile of the day. The Dictionary son, named for Graham’s son Cole, easily held off five other starters to capture the first of three divisions of the ISOBA card for two-year-old colt pacers. The 1:56 win also erased almost four full seconds from his lifetime mark. Owner Shelly Graham completes this family portrait from Salem, Illinois.
1:58.1 was fast enough in the second division of three-year-old filly trotters to capture the win for Fox Valley Cordial and driver Tim Searle. The Armbro Charger daughter led wire-to-wire to post her 11th win in 26 starts. This Dirk Simpson trainee was bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds and is owned by Phil Langley, Vicki Kay Owen and Marshall Field.
Three-fifths of a second was the difference between winners in the first of two divisions raced for three-year-old filly pacers. Driver Rick Schrock found racing room for Free For All late in the mile to post a 1:59.2 win. The Jonny A Heritage filly raced off the pace for most of this mile. At the three-quarter mark she paced in fourth along the rail behind leader Fox Valley Nuance (David Gibbs), TK Gimlet (Nick Prather), and a parked out third Clear Creek Chlsea (Mike Rogers). Schrock then expertly guided her home through traffic for the victory. Free For All is trained and co-owned by Kenyon Walker along with Ron Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois.
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Tim Jones Photos
Customize was a 1:57.2 winner for Dirk Simpson.
Customize, with Dirk Simpson behind, used a powerful three-wide brush at the three-quarter call to win by open lengths in the three-year-old colt trot ISOBA Review. Simpson patiently bid his time with the talented Wilson Wyoming gelding racing in fourth through fractions of :30, :59.2, and 1:29 in the 1:57.2 win. Customize is trained by Dirk Simpson for owner Bart Cavanaugh Sr. of Media, Pennsylvania. With 2004 earnings of over $138,000 in 15 starts, Customize has never finished worse than second in 30 lifetime starts.
In the day’s finale, pre-race favorite Ernie’s Mac, with driver/trainer Bob Walker, could not find racing room as Feel The Flame with Jamaica Patton aboard captured a 1:57 wire-to-wire win. The three-year-old chestnut pacer led through fractions of :29.4, :59.2, and 1:28.3 in this ISOBA Review. The Jonny A Heritage gelding is trained by Ron Phillips and is owned by Rachelle Phillips of Springfield, Illinois, Deloris Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois and Cari Ferguson of Cantrall, Illinois. The win is also a new lifetime mark for the sophomore pacer.