by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — After putting together an impressive freshman campaign in which she won six of her 10 starts, Kevin Dixon and Robert Taylor’s talented trotter Miss Vickie picked up right where she left off on Sunday night (May 10) as she trotted to a 2-3/4 length victory in an $18,270 Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders Stake at Balmoral Park.

Despite drawing the outside post in the field of 10 this striking chestnut daughter of Valley Victor-Willy Nilly made it look easy as driver Brandon Simpson worked out a perfect second over trip to make her sophomore debut a winning one in 1:57.2.

Kept well off the pace of Tropical Caprice (Dave Magee) as that filly breezed through splits of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:28.4, Simpson worked his way into a live outer flow as the field moved around the final turn.

Sitting in a second over position while trotting along in fourth as the field turned for home, the Robert Taylor trained miss then exhibited her potent closing kick as she breezed home in :28, to make her 2009 debut a winning one. Lane’s Game (J.D. Finn) turned a pocket sitting trip into a second place check while Maple Grove Sarah (Josh Sutton) rallied from far back to finish third.

Last year’s Lady Lincoln Land and Sarah Myers Stake winner was heavily respected at the betting windows despite a five month layoff, returning just $5.00, $4.00 and $4.00 as she pushed her career earnings up to $129,550.