by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Once again it was state bred pacers who were back in the spotlight on Sunday night (May 6) at Balmoral Park as an overflow field of 11 sophomore fillies squared off in a $21,460 ISOBA Stake.

After a tune-up effort on April 28 it was all systems go for HBH Standardbreds’ Sportsfancy, who once again proved that she’ll be the one to beat in this division as she cruised to a 1-1/4 length triumph in a career best of 1:51.4.

Getting a perfect steer from leading reinsman Ryan Anderson, the daughter of Sportsmaster was positioned along the pylons in third as Faith Leigh (Brent Holland) led the field through opening splits of :27.4 and :55.4.

Midway around the final bend Anderson tugged on the right line of a fit and fresh Sportsfancy and the filly quickly began her assault on the pace setter, pulling to within 1-1/2 lengths of the leader as the field reached the three-quarter mark in 1:23.3.

Under very little urging from her pilot Sportsfancy effortlessly wore down a game but tired Faith Leigh, drawing clear through the final sixteenth of a mile, for the victory. Faith Leigh turned in a very solid performance from post position 10 to be the bridesmaid while Perdido (Todd Warren) rallied late to finish third.

After a championship season in which she posted seven wins and two seconds while earning nearly $125,000, the Homer Hochstetler trained miss appears poised for another huge year after shaving nearly two full seconds off her career mark in Sunday’s triumph.