by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — The first Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association Stake of the season was contested on Wednesday night, May 5, at Balmoral Park and it was Frank Baldachino and Earl Smith’s Rev Me Up who made her return to the Prairie State a triumphant one as she knocked off nine rivals in 1:54 to take the $17,720 event.

Mike Oosting and Rev Me Up cruised to victory in Wednesday’s $17,720 ISOBA Stake.

Coming off a very successful start to her sophomore season in which she has been first or second in eight of 10 starts including a victory in the $46,900 Hopeful Series Final at Yonkers, the daughter of Park Place-Turbonium was made the overwhelming 3-5 choice by the betting public.

Driven like she was much the best by Mike Oosting (four wins on the night), the Kathy Millman trained miss came away fourth as Cole Blue (Robert Smolin) and Reilly’s Daughter (Marcus Miller) showed the way through an opening quarter in :28.3. Using a big backside brush, Oosting sent Rev Me Up to the top with five-eighths of a mile to go.

On cruise control the rest of the way, Rev Me Up clicked off middle splits of :56.and 1:26 before finishing things off with a :28 final quarter to win by a deceptively easy length. Reilly’s Daughter held on for second while last year’s freshmen champion Fox Valley Oracle (Dave Magee) closed well to finish third despite drawing the nine-hole for her seasonal debut.

With the win Rev Me Up now boasts a record of 5-4-1 in 11 starts this season and the victory helped push her career earnings up to $104,369.

Trotters were featured on the undercard as a field of nine diagonally gaited 3-year-old colts and geldings met in the $9,000 Iggy Magoo Stake.

Balmoral Park photos

Marcus Miller guided Showmeyourstuff to a one length triumph in Wednesday’s $9,000 Iggy Magoo Stake.

The favorite also prevailed in this tussle as Showmeyourstuff and driver Marcus Miller uncorked a wicked closing burst to blow by entrymate Leaveitonthetrack (Robert Smolin) and Wolf Creek Pass (Brian Carpenter) to win in a career best of 1:56.2.

After appearing to be hopelessly shuffled out of contention at the top of the stretch, the Jerald Viviani trained son of Armbro American-Pine Bough found the racing room he needed when the pocket sitting Somore Set (Todd Warren) made a nasty break as the field turned for home.

Reeling in the other Viviani trainee, Leaveitonthetrack, who had opened up a four length lead on the far turn, Showmeyourstuff began to uncork his potent closing kick. The breaking horse had also allowed Wolf Creek Pass to find racing room up the inside and that colt was looming large as the trotters rolled through the stretch.

With Miller guiding his charge to the far outside, Showmeyourstuff began gobbling up ground, eventually blowing right by the top pair to win by a length. Wolf Creek Pass was second while Leavitonthetrack finished third.

The victory was the second in three starts this season for Showmeyourstuff who now boasts a career bankroll of $73,386.