by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — The Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders Association stake action continued on Sunday night (May 4) at Balmoral Park as a field of six sophomore pacing fillies lined up behind the gate to battle for a purse of $18,820.

Fresh off a win at Balmoral Park just four nights prior to this event, Kenneth Spurlock’s Kennans Kelli continued her winning ways as she held on gamely to record a hard fought head decision over Westside Gritty in a lifetime best of 1:52.2.

Balmoral Park photo

Kennans Kelli (#5) gamely held off the late bid of Westside Gritty to win Sunday’s ISOBA Stake in a career best of 1:52.2.

Hustled away from the gate by driver Mike Oosting, this daughter of Cole Muffler quickly opened up a 4-1/2 length advantage after negotiating her way around a breaking Lovely Hotspur in the first turn.

Rolling along through splits of :29, :57.4, and 1:25.1, the Joel Smith trained miss was well within herself as she maintained an open length advantage through the opening three-quarters of the mile.

In the stretch Kennans Kelli dug in tenaciously as she held off the big late charge of the highly regarded Westside Gritty (Brent Holland), who came into this race undefeated in three starts this season, to win by a head. Renovation (Ryan Anderson), who sat on the winner’s back the entire way, wound up third, 4-1/4 lengths behind.

Kennans Kelli now sports a record of four wins and three seconds in 11 starts this season with earnings of $32,730. Coming off her win last Wednesday night this filly was dispatched as the even-money favorite in the race, returning $4.00, $2.10 and $2.10.