by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Robert and Donnie Taylor’s Little Ms Chrissy picked the right time to come up with the biggest effort of her eight race career as she knocked off the heavily favored Trot Fudge Sundae in Wednesday’s (Oct. 3) $118,000 Lady Lincoln Land stake for Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old trotting fillies at Balmoral Park. The late rushing victory came by 1-1/4 lengths as the filly stopped the clock in 1:58.3.

Placed in mid-pack as Trot Fudge Sundae cruised through splits of :29.1 and :59, driver-trainer Robert Taylor maneuvered the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz to the outside as the field moved around the final turn.

Balmoral Park photo

Little Ms Chrissy cruised right by the heavily favored Trot Fudge Sundae in Wednesday’s $118,000 Lady Lincoln Land Stake.

“My original plan was to try and leave out of there and sit right on Dave’s (Magee) helmet since everybody knew she was the one to beat,” said a jubilant Taylor. “Unfortunately, or in this case, fortunately things don’t always work out the way you think they are going to and we wound up with a perfect second over journey.”

After following the cover of Powerful Goddess (Mike Cox) as Trot Fudge Sundae continued to show the way by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.4, Taylor tipped his filly three deep and she immediately began to cut into the deficit.

“She really felt good as we headed around that turn,” said Taylor. “I wasn’t sure we could get to Trot Fudge Sundae because she’s been awfully tough to stop this year but we’ve been close a couple of times and she always seems to trot home strong so I was just hoping this was going to be her night.”

Gradually wearing down the pacesetter, the long striding bay eventually collared the 2-5 favorite with about 50 yards to go and began to draw away to her fourth win in eight lifetime starts. Trot Fudge Sundae held on gamely to finish second while Close Call Emotion (Casey Leonard) was a distant third.

After the race the connections of Little Ms Chrissy, which included a very emotional caretaker Jermel Smith, were completely overjoyed with the effort their filly had just turned in.

“She’s been good all year long and we’ve done our best to take care of her,” said Taylor. “She’s a good gaited filly but the trotting hopples that we added a few starts back have helped her get through the first turn a little easier and I think they’ve helped her become a little more patient. We’ll try open company in the Hanover for her next start and then we’ll finish out the year in the Violet with her before giving her some time to relax and grow up a little more.”

Sent off as the second choice, Little Ms Chrissy returned $6.60, $2.40 and $2.20 while running her record to 4-3-0 in eight starts with earnings of $96,410.

In the $23,500 consolation of the Lady Lincoln Land, which was contested as a non-wagering event prior to the start of the regular program, David Hermann and Ronald Marino’s Fox Valley Roxy trotted to a convincing 2-1/2 length victory in 2:00.2 for driver Mike Oosting.