by Joshua Potts, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Scarlet Valley, a 3-year-old Illinois-bred filly trotter, won the $15,000 Fox Valley Flan Stake last Tuesday night (April 24) at Balmoral Park, in a career-best 1:58.4.

Balmoral Park photo

Brent Holland drove Scarlet Valley to the win in the Fox Valley Flan.

The talented young filly is owned and trained by the 2005 Trainer of the Year in North America, Erv Miller. She upped her record to four wins, two places, and two shows in nine career races.

Miller feels confident about her prospects against Illinois conceived and foaled (ICF) company this season.

“We’re very happy with her. She’s off to a good start. She’ll be in the Illinois 3-year-old stakes. Hopefully, she’ll keep progressing steadily.”

When asked how she stacks up against the other state-bred trotters in her division, Miller said, “She’s one of the top two or three.”

The early success of Scarlet Valley has been a family affair for the Millers. That is because Kenneth Miller, Erv’s cousin, bred Scarlet Valley, who is out of the Armbro Charger mare Scarlet Jami. Also, Andy Miller, Erv’s brother, has had a hand in the filly’s success as well. He drove her to victory in her Meadowlands debut, her third career victory overall, on February 25 of this year.

But what about Scarlet Valley’s other family? Her equine family?

When the sophomore trotting miss was entered into the Fox Valley Flan Stake, there were a total of eight trotters entered — Scarlet Valley and seven others. The eventual show horse, Fox Valley Deja, is by Vaporize. The other seven, including Scarlet Valley, were all by the same sire: the standout Valley Victor.

Valley Victor is used to seeing his kids do battle amongst themselves. In the Trotting Tilly Stake on April 8 at Balmoral, five 3-year-old filly trotters went postward. The fourth place finisher, Sweet Baby Jane, is by High Falls. The other four were all by Valley Victor. Scarlet Valley finished second in that race.

A total of six 3-year-old Illinois-bred colts and geldings competed in the Speedy Rodney Stake on April 8 as well. Before He Cheats, the race winner, is by Valley Victor — as were the third, fourth and six place finishers.

As if this were not enough, one also needs to look at last year. The Su Mac Lad Final, part of Balmoral Park’s annual Super Night, is the biggest race for 3-year-old Illinois-bred colt and gelding trotters each year. Of the ten horses in the 2006 Su Mac Lad Final, six of them were by Valley Victor. When it was all said and done, Valley Victor-sired horses finished first through fifth, and ninth.

The key to success in Illinois trotting seems simple: breed your mare to Valley Victor. Unfortunately for Illinoisans, Valley Victor is now standing in Kentucky.

Illinois’ loss is Kentucky’s gain.

Harness racing fans in the Prairie State only have a few more crops of Valley Victor’s Illinois conceived and foaled progeny to enjoy watching before they are all too old to race in the freshman and sophomore ranks. That means there is no time like the present to enjoy watching Scarlet Valley and her half-siblings race in Chicago-area tracks this season.

Who will be the next trotting stallion to dominate in Illinois once Valley Victor’s reign has completed? No one truly knows. One thing is certain. Illinois harness racing fans are sorry that he’s gone.