Millers sweep closing night stakes
July 14, 2004,by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — Balmoral Park headed into its 55 day hiatus with a pair of Illinois conceived and foaled stakes events on Tuesday night. Live racing will resume at the Crete oval on Thursday, September 9 with Super Night Eliminations kicking off the action.
Sophomore trotting fillies started the closing night action as a field of nine diagonally gaited ladies squared off in the $10,000 Fox Valley Evita.
Chrissy Koeppen Photo
Fox Valley Flan and driver Andy Miller were easy winners in the $10,000 Fox Valley Evita.
As expected Fox Valley Flan, the “Queen” of this division, had no trouble continuing her dominance as she trotted to an easy two and one-quarter length triumph in 1:57.
Confidently handled by her regular partner Andy Miller, Fox Valley Flan was content to float up on the outside of horses as the leaders hit the opening quarter in :291.
Assuming command on the backstretch, the daughter of Vaporize glided to the top, effortlessly strolling through middle splits of :591 and 1:292.
On cruise control throughout the stretch the Ervin Miller-trained miss had absolutely no problem fending off her rivals as she rolled to her fifth win in six starts this season. The pride of Tanah Merah Farms now boasts 13 wins and two seconds in 17 lifetime starts with earnings of $245,520. Hoosier Peekaboo (Pat Berry) followed the winner’s every move while finishing second and Tootie Mouse (Mike Oosting) was third.
Two-year-old pacing fillies closed out the stakes action as a field of 10 hit the track for the $12,000 Active Donna V Stake Final.
Chrissy Koeppen Photo
Fox Valley Zena remained unbeaten with a victory in Tuesday’s Active Donna V Final.
Once again it turned into “Miller time” as brothers Andy and Ervin combined to send yet another eye-catching filly to the winner’s circle with Ron Michelon’s Fox Valley Zena.
Sporting a perfect four for four record coming into this event, the daughter of Richess Hanover was bet to the exclusion of her nine rivals. Chalk players never had to sweat as Miller positioned his filly mid-pack as the field raced through fractions of :273 and :57.
“I was able to get her to relax tonight which she really hasn’t done in her first few starts,” explained the winning pilot. “That made it pretty easy for me.”‘
Moving to the outside just past the halfway point, Fox Valley Zena picked up live cover from Fox Valley Fussy (Anthony Morgan) as the field hit the three-quarter mark in 1:271.
Chrissy Koeppen Photo
Andy Miller and Seldon Ledford were honored as the meet’s leading driver and trainer.
Fox Valley Fussy hit the front just as the field turned for home giving Fox Valley Zena a clear path to the wire. With her fluid strides, this good-looking youngster uncorked a :264 final spilt while rolling to an easy two and one-half length score in 1:542. Fox Valley Fussy was second while 66-1 shot Regalia’s Riches (Robert Taylor) was a distant third.
In the winner’s circle the proud conditioner was singing the praises of his undefeated filly.
“We’ve had some great fillies over the past few years and I really think that this could be another one,” said Miller. “We’ll keep her schedule fairly light so she’s in top form when the State Fair races start and then go from there.”
The leading driver and trainer awards were also handed out on Tuesday night. Andy Miller captured the driving title, knocking Tony Morgan off the throne while Seldon Ledford posted his first training title at the Crete oval.