by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — State-bred trotters were in action before the rains and high winds pelted Balmoral Park on Wednesday night (June 12) as a field of five diagonally gaited 3-year-olds squared off in the $12,000 Southern Rocketop Stake, which was contested as a non-wagering event prior to the scheduled start of the regular card which wound up getting wiped out by severe storms.

Balmoral Park photo

Mike Oosting and King Mufasa made quick work of four other ICF trotters in Wednesday’s $12,000 Southern Rocketop Stake.

Continuing his early season dominance of this division, William Wright and Mystical Marker Farms’ King Mufasa made it look easy as he strolled to a 4-3/4 length victory in 1:55.2.

Confidently handled by driver Mike Oosting, the gelded son of Powerful Emotion-Foxy N Diamonds used a powerful backside brush to overtake entrymate Powerful Poe (Todd Warren) after an opening quarter in a pedestrian :30.

Cruising along through middle splits of :59.3 and 1:28.3 the Mike Brink trainee was still fit and fresh in the lane as he sealed the deal with a wicked :26.4 final quarter to post his fourth win in five starts this season. Powerful Poe was forced to settle for the runner-up role for the third time this season while Fox Valley Camo (Jamaica Patton) was third.

The win pushed King Mufasa’s seasonal earnings up to $45,360.