by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled trotters were the focus of attention over the past few nights as Balmoral Park played host to a pair of ISOBA Stakes.

The colt division went postward on Sunday night for a purse of $17,820, while their female counterparts battled for a purse of $17,810 on Tuesday evening.

The Sunday feature turned into a romp in the park as division leader Customize left no doubt about his superiority, cruising to an eight and a half length triumph in a career best of 1:55.3.

Driven like he was head and shoulders above this field by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, the overwhelming 1-2 favorite was eased away from the gate and was parked in third through an opening quarter-mile in :28.1.

Heading down the backstretch, Magee pointed the son of Wilson Wyoming for the front and he quickly swept into the lead while taking the field through a half-mile in :57.4.

The issue was never in doubt from that point on as the Dirk Simpson-trainee trotted by the three-quarter mile mark in 1:27. With plenty in reserve, Customize rolled home in :28.3, while sprinting away from his eight rivals.

Rockome Vic (Dale Hiteman) was a hard trying second while 70-1 longshot Fraher Hill Magic (Tom Busse) rallied from far back to be third.

The win was the ninth in 16 starts this year for the Bart Cavanagh Sr.-owned gelding. Boasting an amazing two-year record of 16 wins and 15 seconds in 32 starts, Customize has earned over $286,000 in his career.

Chrissy Koeppen Photo

Nudy Blue and Tim Tetrick held off Pixie’s Dixie Gal to win Tuesday’s $17,810 ISOBA Stake for three-year-old trotting fillies.

With the absence of division champion Fox Valley Flan in Tuesday night’s filly tussle, Stanley Crowe’s Nudy Blue was bet down to 3-5 and the filly responded nicely as she reported home with a half length triumph in 1:58.1 over a “good” track.

After watching Fox Valley Bella (Dale Hiteman) speed away to a six length lead after an opening quarter-mile in :28.2, driver Tim Tetrick elected to move his filly to the outside of horses to try and reel in the runaway pace-setter.

Despite the fact that Fox Valley Bella was still on top by some eight lengths as the field reached the halfway point in :57.1, Tetrick never panicked and his filly began to cut into the margin as the ladies moved around the far turn.

Quickly swallowing up the leg weary leader, Nudy Blue opened up a one and a quarter length margin as she took the field past the three-quarter mark in 1:27.3.

Setting sail for home the Jim Ellison-trained miss drew away to a two length advantage by the mid-stretch call. Pixie’s Dixie Gal (Tony Morgan), who had followed the cover of Nudy Blue on the far turn, was starting to cut into the margin as the “heavy” racetrack began to take a toll on the betting favorite.

Digging in gamely as the two fillies raced to the wire, Nudy Blue was up to the task on this night as she bravely held off the late bid of Pixie’s Dixie Gal. Gumcorner Vicky (Connel Willis) rallied from eighth and last at the top of the stretch to pick up the show dough.

The victory was the fourth in 16 starts for this daughter of Armbro Charger, who also posted an ISOBA Stakes win at Hawthorne earlier this summer.