My Heart Was True in a thriller

Crete, IL — A compact field of seven Illinois conceived and foaled filly and mare pacers squared off in Sunday’s featured $15,000 Fox Valley Memory Stake at Balmoral Park. After a thrilling stretch duel it was L&L DeVisser’s My Heart Was True who wound up emerging with a well deserved head decision in 1:52.3.

Balmoral Park photo

My Heart Was True (Brandon Simpson) held off Joinusforsomefun by a head.

A force in the state-bred sophomore ranks My Heart Was True was sent right to the top from post position two by driver Brandon Simpson and the daughter of Cole Muffler was comfortably in front as she cruised by the opening station in :27.4. Still under a snug hold from her pilot My Heart Was True continued to lead the way by the half-mile mark in :56.2.

Heading around the final turn My Heart Was True continued to show the way as Joinusforsomefun (Sam Widger), the even-money favorite in the race, came calling with a first over bid. Following the live cover of the favorite, Kennans Kelli (Mike Oosting) was poised to strike as well, moving into third, just two lengths behind the top pair as they sped past the three-quarter-mile pole in 1:24.2.

Through the lane a determined My Heart Was True continued to battle on from the inside while Joinusforsomefun tried to get by her on the outside. With the two sophomores battling tooth and nail down to the wire My Heart Was True showed the grit and determination that had netted her 11 previous victories this season as she dug in gamely to prevail in the photo. Joinusforsomefun was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Kennans Kelli wound up third, just 1-1/4 lengths behind.

After posting just one victory in eight starts as a freshman, the Nick Giberson trainee now boasts a record of 12-1-1 in 17 starts this year with earnings of $178,138. A close second choice in the wagering My Heart Was True returned $5.00, $2.60 and $2.20.

— Tom Kelley

Hardball works for Most Happy Lavros at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Claiming handicap pacers, racing for a purse of $4,600, were featured at Cal-Expo on Sunday night, in which Most Happy Lavros gladly took advantage of what was handed to him.

Prior to starting from post position three in the field of seven, driver James Kennedy gave thought to a tactic change.

“My original plan, since my horse actually does have gate speed, was to try and leave around Jd’s Awesom Al (Rick Plano) and Titan Seelster (Lemoyne Svendsen),” noted Kennedy. “But they left pretty hard to my inside and I changed my plan.”

Coming away fifth after smartly shutting out Shock And Awe (Gilbert Herrera) from a hole in the first turn which led to a big time dispute for the lead, Most Happy Lavros surely had to benefit from a fast :27.3 opening quarter.

“I wasn’t sure that the :27.3 was helpful because at that point I was chasing after my horse.”

Remaining fifth at the half-mile marker while Dynamite Express (Luke Plano) exchanged blows with his right-side counterpart Shock And Awe into a torturous :55.1 first half, Kennedy was feeling better and better about his chances.

“The :55.1 was definitely benefiting me and it really benefited me once I got Jd’s Awesome Al to pull and give me second-over cover past the half.”

Racing third-over to the 9-16ths pole and second-over at it, Kennedy eventually tipped his charge three-wide past the three-quarter pole, timed in 1:24. Did he get what he expected?

“I thought I was home free when I tipped him, but then he kind of started to back-peddle on me. That’s when I popped the earplugs at the top of the stretch and he responded well and went forward.”

Drifting out to the seven-eighths pole, but taking over the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, Kennedy urged his charge on, but the 8-year-old was not going on.

“He was now slowing down pretty good and I’m assuming that’s because we went a three-quarters in 1:24. As a result, I started urging him a lot harder and once I did that he started moving on. At that point though, I was just trying to keep him forward.”

Hanging on to a precarious lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Kennedy now had to deal with a fast closing Latino Hall (Jim Lackey).

“I knew my horse was getting tired and I just kept urging him on and hoping for the wire.”

Just holding on to win ($12.00) by a diminishing head over the fast closing Titan Seelster who had gotten pushed back, the Gretchen Smith owned and trained gelding stopped the timer at 1:53.3, a seasonal best. An unlucky Titan Seelster finished in second and Latino Hall finished just a head farther back in third.

“The speed duel up front helped me out tremendously, but I still thought he raced very good and I’m very thankful to Gretchen Smith for letting me drive the horse,” concluded Kennedy.

On the Sunday card, leading driver Luke Plano had five wins, and driver Tim Maier, by virtue of having a driving double, will enter Thursday night’s races just one win shy of 2,000 driving triumphs.

— Scott Ehrlich