by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Freshman trotters will take center stage on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Balmoral Park as the two richest stakes events of the season for diagonally gaited state-breds, the $100,000 Lady Lincoln Land and $100,000 Lincoln Land Stakes, share top billing on the 11-race program which begins at 7:20 p.m. (CDT).

After knocking heads in a pair of elimination battles last week a field of 10 fillies will line up behind the gate for the Lady Lincoln Land which goes as the third race.

Patrick Graham’s Fox Valley Luxury looked very sharp in her elimination score and she has been accorded the 5-2 morning line favoritism in this event.

The daughter of International Chip-Love You More grabbed control of the race just after the quarter last Wednesday and proceeded to cruise to a two length triumph in 1:58.3. The win was her third in eight starts this year and the Leo Grummel trainee now boasts almost $70,000 in earnings.

Southern Maebelle chased home the top choice last week and from her inside starting spot this daughter of High Falls-Summer In The City figures to be right there once again. The Robert Taylor trained miss also finished second behind Fox Valley Luxury in the State Fair Final at Springfield before turning the tables on her main rival in the $45,000 Shawnee Stake at Du Quoin. On the board in six of her seven lifetime starts Southern Maebelle has banked nearly $55,000 this season.

Others to keep a close eye on include Fox Valley Ripple, who rallied for a win in last week’s elimination action, Fox Valley Brenna, who won a State Fair Stake elimination and was second in the Shawnee Stake prep and Claires Rose, a speedball who finished third in the Shawnee Stake.

Another field of 10 will be sent to the gate for the Lincoln Land Stake which has been carded as race four on the program.

Despite drawing the nine hole, Kjell Andersen’s Rock Hollywood is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The son of Psychic Spirit-Serafina The Great returns to Balmoral Park after a 23 length romp in the Fall Review at Springfield. A private purchase early this summer by his Norwegian owner Rock Hollywood has captured the State Fair Stake Final and was second in the Darn Safe Final in Du Quoin. On the board in all six starts this year the Mike Brink trainee has earned over $41,000.

Muscatine picked a nice time to pick up his first career win in last week’s elimination for this stake and he should be a major factor once again if he races back to that effort. The gelded son of Tequila Spur flew right by his rivals in the late stages last week, scoring by three lengths in 1:58 for driver Dale Hiteman.

Others that figure to garner attention at the betting windows include State Fair Stake elimination winner Showmeyourstuff, Plesac Stake runner-up Fox Valley Smarty and State Fair Stake elimination runner-up Big Bucks, who may have needed his elimination race after being away for more than a month.