by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — A pair of American-Nationals for 2-year-old trotters and another Super Night elimination closed the books on a busy holiday weekend of stakes action on Sunday (Sept. 6) at Balmoral Park.

Catch All and driver Trace Tetrick teamed up to pull off the 9-1 upset in Sunday’s American-National for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

In the opening American-National a field of seven diagonally gaited fillies lined up behind the gate to battle for a purse of $46,750. Overlooked in the wagering after having some breaking issues to start her career, Diamond Creek Racing and Robert and Lynda Stewart’s Catch All was as sure footed as could be while stepping her way to a three-quarter length victory in a snappy 1:56.4 for driver Trace Tetrick.

Ducked off the gate as Bold Dresser (Oyvind Hegdal) led the field through opening splits of :28.3 and :58.4, Catch All was positioned perfectly in third as she moved to the outside with the field heading around the final bend.

“I wanted to let her get settled in for a bit before I asked her for anything,” said Tetrick. “When I raced her at the Indiana State Fair she felt great to me and she showed me that day that she could grind away on the outside if you needed her to.”

Grind away she did on this night, drawing to within a head of the pacesetter as the two fillies reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.1.

In the lane the Bob Stewart trained daughter of Muscles Yankee-Clever Catch wore down the leader and proceeded to draw clear for her first career win in start number four. I Luv Blackhawkred (Lewayne Miller) turned a pocket sitting trip into a second place check while Bold Dresser held on for the show dough.

After the impressive win, which was just three ticks off the track record of 1:56.1, Tetrick was quick to praise the $17,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase.

“I thought a lot of her after that second place finish in Indy,” said Hoosier Park’s leading reinsman. “Everything is still pretty new to her with this being only her fourth career start but I thought she really stepped up tonight and showed that she’s going to be a very serious race horse.”

The fourth choice in the wagering, Catch All returned $21.40, $7.60 and $2.80 to her backers.

Another 9-1 choice captured the $60,400 American-National for 2-year-old trotting colts as Mystical Marker Farms, Bobby Brower, Ben Graber and Victory Hill Farms’ Barryscourt rallied in the final strides to nip 1-9 favorite Waitlifter K by a neck in 1:56.1.

David Baum photos

Lewayne Miller rallied Barryscourt to a neck victory in the American- National for 2-year-old trotting colts.

Perfectly handled by driver Lewayne Miller, the gelded son of Northern Kid-Katie Hall left alertly from post six and was able to find a seat in third as Waitlifter K (Trace Tetrick) carved out uncontested splits of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.2.

With the heavy favorite opening up a three length advantage at the top of the lane, things looked bleak for the Bobby Brower trainee but Miller never stopped urging his charge as he gradually cut into the margin while racing on the outside of horses. With a sixteenth of a mile to go Barryscourt edged alongside the leader and gamely managed to poke a neck in front in the final strides to post his third win in four career starts. Waitlifter K was forced to settle for the runner-up role on this night while JD Cheese (Dale Hiteman) was third, 4-3/4 lengths behind the top pair.

With the win the Kentucky Sire Stakes champion, who returned $20.20, $2.60 and $2.20, now boasts a gaudy bankroll of $125,400 in just four career starts.

The final Super Night elimination of the busy weekend also put trotters in the spotlight as a field of 10 sophomore fillies battled in a $12,500 Lady Ann Reed Stake elimination. The top nine finishers will return next Saturday for the $80,000 (est.) final where they will be joined by Persuasive Look.

This battle produced one of the most impressive performances of the weekend as Dr. Patrick Graham’s Fox Valley Yoko rallied from far back to win by a half-length in 1:58.2 for driver Kyle Wilfong.

Hampered in the draw with post nine, the daughter of Pizzazzed-Hallie Rose saved ground for most of the mile while sitting near the back of the pack. After finally securing racing room in the lane, the Curt Grummel trained miss uncorked a huge rally, going from eighth to first in the final quarter-mile to notch her third win in 10 starts this year. Shez So Sassy finished in the bridesmaid role while Lc’snmotion (Mike Oosting) rallied to be third.

Also gaining spots in the final were Bi Polar Rose, Fox Valley Harrah, Patient ID, Maple Grove Karen, None Of That Stuff and Divinely Floozy.