by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Returning to his “home” state proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Kjell Magne Andersen’s Rock Hollywood as he knocked off seven rivals by three-quarters of a length in his Su Mac Lad Stake elimination. He is the 5-2 morning line favorite on Saturday (Sept. 18) in the $105,000 Su Mac Lad final, part of Illinois’ Super Night.

After starting the year in Canada facing some of the top sophomore trotters in North America, the good looking son of Psychic Spirit was reunited with Illinois based conditioner Mike Brink who also handled the training duties for this gelding during a freshman season which saw him post a record of five wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts while earning over $95,000.

The return paid dividends immediately as Rock Hollywood finished a game third in the Kadabra Stake before heading to Springfield where he captured the State Fair Stake Final in a career best of 1:54.

He was then shipped off to Pennsylvania where he finished second against some rugged foes in the $100,000 Colonial Trot consolation at Harrah’s Chester.

A private purchase by his Norwegian owner during the summer of his 2-year-old season, Rock Hollywood now boasts eight victories, four seconds and three third place finishes in 17 starts with more than $178,000 in earnings on his card.

Trainer Jerald Viviani will send out a formidable duo in Showmeyourstuff and Leaveitonthetrack as they look to knock off the probable post time favorite in this Saturday’s Suc Mac Lad final at Balmoral Park. Showmeyourstuff is fresh off a big come from behind victory in his Su Mac Lad elimination last Sunday as he came storming through the lane for his fifth victory of the year. The gelded son of Armbro American has put up some impressive numbers in his two seasons, posting seven victories and almost $114,000 in earnings.

Others to keep a close eye on in this event include Muscatine, a multiple stakes winner from the barn of Joel Smith, who has five wins and more than $57,000 in earnings this season and Somore Set, a recent addition to the barn of trainer Roger Welch.

Lady Ann Reed Final looks to be a wide open affair

As has been the case throughout most of the 2010 racing season, this year’s crop of Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old trotting fillies has been a very competitive division. That should make Saturday night’s $100,000 Lady Ann Reed Stake final a wide open race
from start to finish.

Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Click comes into the race off a lifetime best of 1:56.1 in the Windy Skeeter Stake at Du Quoin and the daughter of Vaporize figures to garner plenty of support in this battle. The Joel Smith trained miss has also proven to be a tough competitor in the “open” ranks, capturing a division of the Hanover Stake here at Balmoral Park back on July 14. A five time winner in her career Fox Valley Click has more than $70,000 in career earnings.

Fox Valley Ripple was a recent addition to the barn of red-hot conditioner Robert Taylor and this good looking bay caught everyone’s attention with a big come from behind win with a career best of 1:55.4 in last week’s elimination. Well handled by J.D. Lewis in her elimination score Fox Valley Ripple has seven lifetime victories in 24 starts for owners Anthony Munoz and Carol O’Brien.

Trainer Nelson Willis will send out Powerful Bella who will be looking to make amends for her fourth place finish as the favorite in the Windy Skeeter. The daughter of Powerful Emotion has been near the top of the division all season long, racking up a record of 4-3-3 in 15 trips postward while earning over $51,000 for Jim Jesk’s Sawgrass Farms. Included in her victories is a division of the Hanover here at Balmoral and the $35,000 State Fair Stake Final in Springfield.

This year’s Fox Valley Evita Stake winner Merry High will carry the hopes of owner/trainer Trenton Watson and his mother Brenda Watson as she comes into this test as the leading money winner in the division this year with more than $52,000 on her card. The High Falls filly has 10 lifetime victories and more than $80,000 in earnings.

Another who cannot be overlooked is last year’s division champion Southern Maebelle who comes into the Lady Ann Reed off second place finishes in the Windy Skeeter and the Lady Ann Reed elimination. The Gerald Hansen trainee has been on the board in 18 of 25 lifetime starts while banking over $154,000 for Powers Farms.