by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled trotters closed out a big weekend of racing action at Balmoral Park on Sunday (Aug. 4) as a field of eight 3-year-old colts battled in the $25,000 Mikes A Mystery Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

King Mufasa (inside) posted his eighth win in nine starts this year as he gamely held off Powerful Poe in Sunday’s Mikes A Mystery Stake.

As has been the case throughout the entire 2013 season, H. “Bill” Wright and Mystical Marker Farms’ King Mufasa toted home top honors as he posted a hard fought head decision in 1:55.1 for driver Mike Oosting.

Leaving from post eight the gelded son of Powerful Emotion-Foxy N Diamonds was unhurried early on, allowing Maplegrove Shaelyn (Jamaica Patton) to dictate terms through splits of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:27.2.

Getting underway as the field moved towards the half-mile mark, Oosting tried to flush cover as he proceeded his march towards the front but with his rivals electing to sit in King Mufasa pulled alongside of the pacesetter as the diagonally gaited sophomores hit the top of the stretch.

Zipping right by Maplegrove Shaelyn, Oosting and King Mufasa then dug in gamely to hold off a late surge from the ground saving Powerful Poe through the final sixteenth of a mile for his eighth win in nine starts this year. Powerful Poe settled for the runner-up role for the eighth time in 11 starts this season while Monticello Lane (Robert Taylor) benefitted from a disqualification to move into the show spot.

The Mike Brink trained King Mufasa now boasts 10 wins and two seconds in 17 career starts with earnings of $117,452.

Grand Circuit action highlighted the Saturday (Aug. 3) program as a pair of Hanover Stakes for 2-year-olds attracted 27 colt and filly pacers.

An overflow field of 12 colts were sent postward for a $46,100 jackpot and when the smoke cleared it was Lawrence Gary’s good looking Quik Pulse Mindale-Hasty Dewer colt Blooming Genius who emerged on top with a wire-to-wire score in 1:54.1 for driver Dave Magee.

Despite making only his third career start, the Todd La Fountaine trainee looked like a seasoned pro as he took full advantage of the inside starting spot while leading the field through splits of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.1.

With plenty in reserve Blooming Genius sealed the deal with a :29.1 final marker to win for the second time in three starts. PQ Three (Mike Oosting) rallied nicely to finish a fast closing second despite being outside every step of the mile while another Erv Miller trainee, Badger Quinn (Lewayne Miller), finished third.

Fresh off his back-to-back wins after finishing second in his career debut, Blooming Genius now boasts $26,475 in career earnings.

With a total of 15 fillies dropped into the entry box the filly tussle was split into a pair of $29,600 divisions.

In the opening battle Engel Stable of Illinois’ Marzy Bearzy came up with a career best as she rallied from mid-pack to score by a half-length in 1:54.3 with Casey Leonard at the controls.

After saving ground through splits of :28, :56.3 and 1:25.2, Leonard moved the Nelson Willies trained daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Sleazebiscuit to the outside as the field headed around the final bend. Hitting her top gear with an eighth of a mile to go, Marzy Bearzy cruised right by the leaders with a :28.2 final quarter to notch her second win in four starts. Rock Groupie (Brian Carpenter) battled through a tough first over trip to finish in the bridesmaid role while Boxed Chocolates (Dave Magee) was third.

In the second division the Jesse De Long owned and trained Delco Voracious pulled off the upset as the Running Aces invader found room late and rallied sharply for a 2-3/4 length triumph in a career best of 1:53.1 with John De Long handling the lines.

The homebred daughter of Voracious Hanover-Gypsys Good Girl used her inside starting spot to perfection, saving ground throughout the mile as Western Dame (Casey Leonard) put up splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26. After finding racing room in the lane Delco Voracious unleashed a wicked :27 final quarter to roll right by for her fourth win in five career starts. Western Dame held on for second while Thesleazyprincess (Mike Oosting), the even-money favorite, was forced to settle for the show dough after a tough first over journey.

Sent off at 19-1 despite opening her career with three straight wins in Minnesota, Delco Voracious returned $40.20 while pushing her career bankroll over the $24,000 mark.