by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — A pair of $10,000 Newcomers Series Finals headlined the Easter Sunday program at Balmoral Park. After a pair of spirited preliminary legs and a Maywood Park-based final, these showcases for locally based youngsters figured to be heated contests from start to finish.

Tank Man and driver Andy Miller (#1) edged out Dale Hiteman and Fox Valley Emerald (#8) in Sunday night’s $10,000 Newcomers Series Final.

In the colt final, In The Lane Racing’s Tank Man overcame a grueling first over trip to prevail by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Overlooked by the betting public (11-1) despite his inside starting spot, this son of Armbro Mackintosh was able to save ground early as a red-hot My Turn Now (Tim Tetrick) ripped through opening splits of :26.4 and :56.2.

Driver Andy Miller roused Tank Man from his spot in the three hole as the field neared the halfway mark and these two raced head and head with the pace-setter around the entire far turn.

Rolling by a leg weary leader as they passed the three-quarter mark in 1:25.4, Tank Man quickly grabbed command. A trio of rivals who had steered clear of the brisk early fractions were now finding their best strides and that charge was being led by the 1-2 favorite in the race — Mr Bluesuede Shoes.

An exciting stretch duel ensued with Tank Man gallantly trying to hold off the heavy favorite. Just as Mr Bluesuede Shoes and a fast closing Fox Valley Emerald (Dale Hiteman) appeared to be getting the better of Tank Man, this gelding found a little something extra, fighting back gamely to get the victory in a career best of 1:54.3. Fox Valley Emerald wound up nosing out Mr Bluesuede Shoes for the place honors.

A recent claim by his new connections, Tank Man now sports a record of two wins and two seconds in six starts this season and he is currently under the guidance of conditioner Jarrod Duncan.

Chalk players were rewarded in the filly final as Shirley and Arthur Le Vin’s Major Shirley, the 6-5 favorite of the betting public, continued to impress with a one and one-quarter length score in a career best of 1:54.3.

Chrissy Koeppen Photos

Major Shirley and driver Ron Marsh were on cruise control as they captured Sunday’s $10,000 Filly Necomers Series Final at Balmoral Park.

Confidently handled by driver Ron Marsh, this daughter of Fighting Major was content to save ground from her inside starting spot as a hard charging Sadie Lynn (Brent Holland) sped to the top from the 10 hole as she paced an opening quarter in :28.

Marsh then sent his charge to the front where she grabbed command of the proceeding as the field reached the half-mile mark in a snappy :56.3.

The issue was never really in doubt from that point on as the Homer Hochstetler-trained miss cruised by the three-quarter mark with a one length lead in 1:26.

Setting her sights on the wire, this good-looking filly paced home straight and true, rattling off a final split of :28.3, as she rolled under the wire with a deceptively easy one and one-quarter length triumph. Swarde (Art Gregory, Jr.), a 23-1 outsider, rallied from ninth at the top of the stretch to be the bridesmaid while Maddymollymacey (Tim Tetrick) wound up third.

Also boasting victories in both of the preliminary legs of this series, Major Shirley now has five wins in her nine career starts, with earnings of $18,377.

The first three months of the year have produced a nice battle in the training ranks here at Balmoral Park. As of Thursday, March 24, Darcy Pletcher was the leading conditioner with 22 wins from his 73 starters. Ken Rucker, who is one of the leading moneywinning trainers in all of North America, was second with 21 wins in 134 starts. Also right there in the mix are Joe Anderson with 20 wins in 90 starts, Eric Plowman, who has 18 wins from 140 starters and Homer Hochstetler, who’s 94 starters have produced 17 winners.

In the driver standings, Hall of Famer Dave Magee is off to a banner start at Balmoral Park. He sits atop the standings with 74 victories in 410 trips postward. Anthony Morgan is next with 67 wins in 376 starts, while Tim Tetrick is third with 55 wins from 438 drives.