by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled stakes action continued on Sunday (May 10) at Balmoral Park as a field of eight state-bred 3-year-old trotting fillies lined up behind the gate for the $8,000 Betzotic Stake.

After a fourth place finish in her seasonal debut, the Homer Hochstetler trained Persuasive Look was ready to roll in her second start of the season as she came charging out of the fog to post a half-length victory in a career best of 1:57.2 for driver Casey Leonard.

David Baum photo

Persuasive Look teamed up with Casey Leonard to capture Sunday’s $8,000 Betzotic Stake.

After getting away in mid-pack as Shez So Sassy (Todd Warren) led the field through an opening split in :30, Leonard moved the homebred daughter of Powerful Emotion-Blacknbluegenes second over behind the race favorite Bi Polar Rose (Travis Seekman) as the field rolled by the half-mile mark in :59.1.

With the favorite clearing to the front midway around the final bend, Persuasive Look gapped a bit, allowing Shez So Sassy to slide out of the pocket while providing “live” cover as the field hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.4.

Once the field straightened for home and came dashing out of the heavy fog that had settled over the track early in the card, Leonard was able to rouse Persuasive Look into her best stride and the good looking bay steadily wore down the pacesetting Bi Polar Rose with a :28.4 final quarter to notch her first victory of the season. Bi Polar Rose held on gamely to finish second while Shez So Sassy grabbed the show dough.

Overlooked a bit in the wagering despite some very impressive freshman credentials, Persuasive Look returned a generous $14.40, $4.40 and $2.80 to her backers. The ultra-consistent filly now boasts a record of 5-4-4 in 15 career starts with earnings of $100,826 for the partnership of Homer Hochstetler and Robert Buddig.

Sophomore pacing fillies were also in action on Sunday night as a field of eight battled in a Violet Stake prep. When the fog cleared from this event it was Kay Willis’s Lex who emerged victorious, posting a 2-1/4 length, front stepping score in 1:53.4 for driver Kyle Wilfong. Fox Valley Aubrey (Robert Smolin) finished second while Sportsmuffler (John De Long) was third. Last season’s divisional leader, Mr Leland’s Filly, wound up an even fourth in this event.