by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — A busy Memorial Day weekend of stakes action for Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters wrapped up on Sunday (May 29) at Balmoral Park as a field of nine 3-year-old trotting fillies met in the $42,600 Violet Stake Final.
Just as she had done in 12 of 13 previous starts, La Bella Vita Stables, Robert Taylor and Kevin Dixon’s fine young trotting filly, My Miss Caroline, had no trouble dispatching of her rivals as she rolled to a very easy four length triumph in 1:58.2 for driver-trainer Robert Taylor.
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Balmoral Park photo
My Miss Caroline continued her domination of the state-bred ranks as she rolled to an easy victory for driver-trainer Robert Taylor in Sunday’s $42,600 Violet Stake final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.
Confidently handled by her conditioner the daughter of Psychic Spirit-Miss Clara T came away in sixth as Fox Valley Ruffian (Mike Oosting) used the inside starting spot to her advantage, leading the field through an opening split in a leisurely :30.
At that point Taylor had seen enough of the slow fractions and sent his prize filly on a mission for the lead. Flushing out cover from Powerful Connection (Brian Carpenter) as the ladies moved down the backside My Miss Caroline was just five lengths behind the pacesetting Fox Valley Ruffian as she hit the half-mile mark in :59.1.
Moving around the final turn Fox Valley Ruffian continued to cling to a diminishing lead as Powerful Connection moved alongside in second. A pocket sitting Jesse Wyoming (John Roberts) was right there in third while a “loaded” My Miss Caroline began to move three deep as the field reached the three-quarter-mile station in 1:28.
Tipping off their cover with just over an eighth of a mile to go My Miss Caroline and Taylor quickly began to swallow up Powerful Connection who had overtaken Fox Valley Ruffian at that point. Trotting home with her long powerful strides last year’s divisional champion blew right by Powerful Connection and quickly began to put daylight between her and the rest of the field.
On cruise control through the final 50 yards My Miss Caroline easily reported home with her second win in as many tries this season. Fox Valley Ruffian battled back to reclaim the bridesmaid role while Powerful Connection finished third.
Bet to the near exclusion of her rivals My Miss Caroline returned just $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 while bumping her career bankroll up to $206,875.
Sophomore pacing colts were in action on the Saturday (May 28) card as a total of 21 Illinois conceived and foaled colts looked for starting spots in next week’s $54,500 Cardinal Stake Final. With three divisions of seven going for $7,000 each, the top three finishers and one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) will be back next week.
In the opening split Jim Edgar, Terry Rathgeber, Ted Lock and James Reynolds’ Rockin Rumble continued his impressive start to his second season as he rallied sharply to win by a widening two lengths in 1:53.3 over a track listed as sloppy.
Reserved through the early going the gelded son of Sportsmaster-Rockin Roll Dancer stormed up first over on the far turn for driver Mike Oosting before uncorking a wicked :27.1 final quarter to notch his fifth win in 10 starts this year for trainer Kristopher Reynolds. AJ Get’s The Money (John De Long) finished second while race favorite Fox Valley Yukon (Dale Hiteman) was third. Battle Tested finished fourth.
In the middle division a red-hot Marcus Miller (six wins on the night) piloted Shim Racing, Mystical Marker Farms, Ron Anderson and Kevin Duffy’s A Cool Card to a 2-1/2 length score in a career best of 1:53 despite the miserable conditions.
Dispatched as the 2-5 favorite after opening his career with four straight victories this good looking son of Cole Muffler-Annie You’re A Card was parked through the opening half while carefully making his way to the front. After sweeping to the top on the far turn the Erv Miller trainee then finished things off with a :27.2 final split to remain undefeated after going unraced as a 2-year-old. Flowmaster (Dean Magee) shook loose late to finish second while Boi (Mike Oosting) held on for third. Fox Valley Griffin (Jamaica Patton) was fourth.
In the final division last season’s Orange & Blue winner Dutch Richman gave “team Miller” another victory, toying with his rivals en route to a deceptively easy two length triumph in 1:52.3 on what felt more like an October night than a May evening.
After getting away almost nine lengths behind the early leaders, driver Marcus Miller put the son of Richess Hanover-Fox Valley Estella into the action on the backstretch. Grinding his way to front as the field turned into the stretch the pride of owners Leland Mathias, the Ervin Miller Stable and Harvey Eisman then drew off through the lane for his fifth career win in seven starts. Cole Snap (Dean Magee) rallied from far back to finish second while Playin For Keeps (Casey Leonard) was third. Early pacesetter Big Gus (Brian Carpenter) finished fourth.