by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Illinois conceived and foaled trotters and pacers shared the spotlight on a very busy Tuesday night (June 23) at Balmoral Park. A total of 12 diagonally gaited colt and gelding trotters squared off in a pair of $5,000 Million Dollar Bye Stake divisions (non-wagering) while 18 2-year-old filly pacers squared off in a pair of $10,000 Incredible Tillie Stake splits.

The proceedings started with a bang as Iris Horowitz’s good looking trotter Shore Road trotted the fastest mile of the year by a 2-year-old as he destroyed his rivals by an amazing 31-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1.

Shore Road turned in an incredible performance in the first division of the Million Dollar Bye Stake, winning by more than 31 lengths in a national season’s best of 1:57.1.

After spotting the field some 12 to 15 lengths after making a break behind the gate driver Brandon Simpson managed to get the gelded son of High Falls-Knowing Vice back on the trot and the two wasted no time getting back into the proceedings as they powered up to grab the lead as the field reached the opening quarter in :31.2.

Moving effortlessly the rest of the way the Shawn Nessa trainee proceeded to rip through middle splits of :59.3 and 1:28. Without a rival in sight Shore Road continued his demolition of this field, trotting home in :29.1 to record his second win in as many starts. Muscatine (Dale Hiteman) finished second while Vapor Magic (Mike Oosting) was third.

Unofficially, press box reports had Shore Road trotting his middle half in a blistering :54.3 which made driver Brandon Simpson shake his head.

“I almost feel bad if that’s how fast we went,” Simpson said in amazement. “He was doing everything on his own though and I wasn’t asking him for anything. I’ve never had the pleasure of sitting behind a trotter that has gone that fast at such an early stage in his career.”

In the second division trotting guru Homer Hochstetler guided Rose Between 2 Thorns’ Big Bucks to a neck decision in 2:01.

Making his career debut the Hochstetler trained son of American Native-Blank Check grabbed the early lead before releasing a hard charging Mystical Malachi (Todd Warren) as the field trotted by an opening panel in :31.1.

Content to sit in the pocket as Mystical Malachi trotted through splits of 1:01 and 1:31.3, Hochstetler then maneuvered Big Bucks to the outside as the field turned for home. Gradually wearing down the pacesetter, Big Bucks seemed to be well within himself as he trotted by Mystical Malachi and then held off a late bid by Leaveitonthetrack (Marcus Miller) to make his debut a winning one. Leaveitonthetrack was a game second while Mystical Malachi wound up six lengths back in third.

Balmoral Park photos

Mike Oosting guided Fox Valley Naomi to victory in the first division of the Incredible Tillie Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

In the first division of the Incredible Tillie Stake, Fox Valley Naomi and driver Mike Oosting pulled off a mild upset as they flew by their rivals in the lane to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1.

Kept well off the early pace as My New Dawn and Fox Valley Angie battled through splits of :29.3, :59.1 and 1:29.1, the daughter of Sportsmaster-No Uglies picked up a live cover flow as the field headed around the final turn.

Sweeping up three-wide around her rivals, the $13,000 yearling purchase blew right by the leaders with a blistering :27.3 final quarter to get the victory. Mystic Major (Dale Hiteman), the overwhelming 2-5 favorite of the betting public, provided the winner’s cover but was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Fox Valley Angie (Dave Magee) held on for third.

The win was the first in two career starts for the Mike Schulfer trained miss who is owned in partnership by Christine Buttice, Louis Buttice, Mary Norton and Frank Santilli.

In the nightcap the James Rowney owned and trained Echoes Of My Soul shed the runner-up role she had assumed in her first two career starts as she reported home with a one length triumph in 1:56.2.

Given a perfect steer by driver Todd Warren the roan daughter of Cole Muffler-Broadway Dazzler left alertly from post position four and was neatly tucked in second as Things Left Unsaid (Brian Carpenter) grabbed the early lead as the field moved by an opening quarter in :28.2.

Content to save ground through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:27.4 that were being set by Park Lane Dawn (Homer Hochstetler), Warren had Echoes In My Soul sitting fourth as the field reached the top of the stretch.

After maneuvering his charge to the outside Echoes In My Soul responded beautifully as she charged by the first over Leanmean Normajean (Hans Schulfer) in the final sixteenth of a mile to get her maiden victory. Leanmean Normajean held on for second while Thingsleftunsaid was third.

Balmoral Park proudly played host to a pair of Harness Racing Youth Foundation races as well on Tuesday night. This was the first stop of seven for the HRYF, which will head to Harrington Raceway for their next stop. Hosted ever so graciously since Friday, June 19, at the beautiful Odds On Acres facility, the campers enjoyed a variety of events before competing on Tuesday night.

The opening exhibition was taken by Dillon O’Toole who was assisted by driver Dean Magee while the second exhibition event was captured by Artie Dick who was under the guidance of Dale Hiteman.

The freshman stakes action continues on Wednesday night (June 24) with a field of five 2-year-old trotting fillies battling in the $5,000 Star Slinger Stake which will be contested as a non-wagering affair at 6:55 p.m. (CDT).