by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Du Quoin, IL — Falkbolagen Ab’s Lantern Kronos cleared to the lead at the head of the stretch and trotted home comfortably for a lifetime best 1:53 victory in the $166,000 Filly World Trotting Derby on Friday afternoon (August 29) at the Du Quoin State Fair.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Jimmy Takter is joined by Lantern Kronos’ caretaker Kim Rogoski after their victory in the Filly World Trotting Derby.

Trainer Jimmy Takter was in the bike as the daughter of Viking Kronos-Bell Power posted her tenth win in 12 season’s starts, lifting her 2008 bankroll to $758,209.

Takter was content to trot along in eighth place through much of the mile, while Princessndiamonds (Mike Oosting) was first to the lead, hitting the quarter-mile mark in :26.3, with Diana Hall (Dave Magee) behind her.

Just past the quarter, Magee had Diana Hall on the move to the lead and held it to the :54.4 half. By the 1:24.3 three-quarters, Morgun’s Sweetheart (Tim Tetrick) was off the rail and on the lead on the outside momentarily.

As the field turned to the homestretch, Takter and Lantern Kronos went wide around the latter part of the turn to the middle of the track to snag the lead and those two trotted away from the field to win by 2-1/4 lengths.

Poster Pin Up (Dale Hiteman) went three wide at the three-quarters to be second. Two Nts With Her (Andy Miller) crossed the line in third but was disqualified and placed eighth for interference. Saorse (Mike Lachance) was placed third and supplement Morgun’s Sweetheart was fifth placed fourth.

Takter was prepared to bide his time before the race even started.

“I didn’t want to leave out of there because I had a feeling they would go fast to the half,” said Takter. “They always do here. I had a stopwatch and I had :55.3 to the half on my watch, maybe, it’s hard to see. But I know we went fast enough that they would come back to me very fast and I made a move on the last turn. She still had the earplugs in at the end.”

Takter added that Lantern Kronos’ next start will likely be the Moni Maker at The Red Mile. Eliminations for that race will be contested on Sunday, September 7, with the $175,000 final slated for Sunday, September 14.

Trio of Hayes Memorial races contested

A trio of Hayes Memorial Grand Circuit races were also contested on Friday at Du Quoin.

Starcelona made a big splash in her first lifetime win in the $51,000 Hayes for 2-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:55.1 victory.

Driven by Brent Holland for trainer Erv Miller and owners Perretti Racing and Black Horse Racing, Starcelona (Muscles Yankee-My Starlet) was well off the early fractions set by Pleasing Lady (Mike Lachance), who got to the quarter in :28.2. She held that lead through the :57.2 half and the 1:25.4 three-quarters.

Starcelona was still more than five lengths off the lead at the head of the stretch and put in a :28.4 last quarter to get to the wire first by a neck over Pleasing Lady. Miss Vickie (Brandon Simpson) was third despite making a break at the wire. Since she was not lapped on another horse, the placing was not changed.

Next up were the 2-year-old pacing fillies in a $41,000 Hayes Stakes as Hawaiian Drink made easy work of the field, winning by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4 with David Miller driving.

Attitude Hanover (Mike Lachance) was first to the lead in that race, stopping the timer at :27.4 and holding it there to the :56.4 half. Long Legged Dream (Mike Oosting) got the lead on the outside at the 1:25.2 three-quarters, but yielded that spot to Hawaiian Drink by the head of the stretch.

The daughter of I Am A Fool-B Passionate went on for the win for her trainer Mark Harder and owner Bulletproof Enterprises. Long Legged Dream was second and Hillary (Dale Hiteman) was third.

Freshman trotting colts closed out the day’s Hayes divisions with a $48,000 offering. Express Glide (Brent Holland) made it three wins in a row, with a 1:56.3 victory by a half-length for his trainer Erv Miller and owners Jack and Peggy Hood, Kenneth Duffy and Mystical Marker Farm.

In that race, Cantabmyway (Mike Lachance) was first to the lead in :29.4, but gave way to Snafu Catch (Doug Rideout) at the :58.2 half. There was yet another lead change at the 1:27.3 three-quarters as Neighsay Hanover (David Miller) was on top on the outside and held that lead to the top of the stretch.

It was a near-blanket finish with the winner Express Glide (Yankee Glide-Clover Mist), second place finisher Southwind Tagar (Brandon Simpson), third place finisher Cantabmyway and Neighsay Hanover all within a length of each other.