by Tom Kelley, the Balmoral Park Publicity Department

Crete, IL — The sophomore trotting set in Illinois took center stage on Sunday night at Balmoral Park when a pair of Illinois Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Stakes shared top billing on the Easter card.

A full field of nine was sent postward in a $17,420 race for fillies, and when the smoke cleared it was Ciara Stable, Claude Powers, Marsha Calfin and Douglas Jones Pixie’s Dixie Gal who emerged victorious in a career best of 1:59².

Pixie’s Dixie Gal won her first purse start following a six month layoff

Showing no ill effects from a six month layoff, the daughter of Valley Victor was whisked away from post position six by driver Tony Morgan, who managed to guide his filly into the three hole while Fox Valley Spender (John D. Finn) took the field past the quarter pole in :30¹.

With things slowing down on the backstretch, Morgan decided it was time to make his move and maneuvered his filly to the outside, where she quickly charged into the lead. It was a short-lived advantage, however, because Fox Valley Future, who had made a break on the first turn, came rolling up and took command as the field reached the half-mile mark in 1:00³.

The hot and heavy action continued around the far turn, where the field raced double-decked to the three-quarter mile mark, reached in 1:30⁴.

It was still anybody’s race as the field straightened for home and just six lengths separated the top eight ladies. Despite a grueling, first-over trip, the longshot Skinan was clinging tenaciously to a two length advantage in mid-stretch. Chatterdance (Andy Miller), the 4-5 favorite in the race, tipped off of her cover and was closing in on the leader while Pixie’s Dixie Gal eagerly awaited her chance in the passing lane.

After finding the room she needed in the final 1-16 of the mile, Pixie’s Dixie Gal came charging up on the inside and won by one length over Skinan. Chatterdance flattened out a bit the late stages and was forced to settle for third.

After chasing the top 2-year-olds in a limited, five start campaign last year, this headstrong Tom Harmer trainee appears to have matured nicely during her off time, and she could be a major player in this division.

A compact field of six diagonally gaited colts was sent postward for a $16,020 jackpot in their division, and it was Phil Langley and Jim Eaton’s Rockome Vic who proved victorious in wire-to-wire fashion.

Balmoral Park photo

Rockome Vic minded his manners on Sunday — which resulted in a win

Perfectly rated by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, the son of Valley Victor finally made it around the first turn without a miscue and stormed right to the front. Trotting comfortably on top and with a three length advantage as they straightened onto the backstretch, Rockome Vic took the field past the quarter pole in :29.

In another masterful move, Magee then put the brakes on as he stole a very easy :32² second quarter-mile and led the field to the half-mile mark in a leisurely 1:01².

Trotting around the final turn things began to heat up a bit when Van Mo (George Conley) came storming up on the outside of horses and challenged the pacesetter. A pocket sitting Camptown (Tim Tetrick) was also right in the thick of things while Rockome Vic led the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:31³.

Through the stretch, Rockome Vic was as game as they come and put away the bid of Van Mo as the field reached the eighth pole. Camptown was still looming boldly, though, and he began to pick up steam and charged through the passing lane. The two battled tooth and nail through the final 1-16 of the mile, but a determined Rockome Vic would not let his rival get past and he rolled under the wire and won by one-half length in 1:59³. Camptown finished a game second and while GT Frazer (Andy Miller), the longshot in the race, finished a distant third, more than seven lengths behind the winner.

In a prep for next week’s Direct Balance Stakes, Bart Seales and Shawn Nessa’s Jenny’s Picnic bested seven other sophomore pacing fillies in a brisk 1:53³.