by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — With 17 Illinois conceived and foaled trotting fillies entered for Thursday night’s Violet Stake eliminations at Balmoral Park, Racing Secretary Doc Narotsky was forced to split the state-bred ladies into two divisions. The top five in each tussle will now move on to the $50,000 (est.) Final next Thursday night.

Chrissy Koeppen Photo

Pixie’s Dixie Gal posted her second win in three starts as a sophomore when she captured Thursday night’s first Violet Stake elimination.

In the opening split, Ciara Stable, Claude Powers, Doug Jones and Mike Polansky’s Pixie’s Dixie Girl overcame post position eight as she won for the second time in three starts this year.

Given a textbook steer from driver Anthony Morgan the daughter of Valley Victor left alertly from her outside spot and was trotting comfortably in sixth as Hoosier Peekaboo (Andy Miller) and Fox Valley Bella (Dale Hiteman) battled tooth and nail through a quick opening quarter of :27³.

The pace slowed considerably on the backstretch as Hoosier Peekaboo continued to lead the field through a half mile in :57. At this point Pixie’s Dixie Gal had joined what was becoming a very live outer flow and she was just seven lengths off the leader as she trotted by the halfway point.

Moving around the turn Hoosier Peekaboo continued to cling to a neck advantage as Gumcorner Vicky (Dean Magee) made a first over bid. Fox Valley Bella had thrown in the towel along the pylons at this point, backing up several contenders who had been saving ground throughout the mile.

Tipping off her cover after a second over journey, Pixie’s Dixie Gal began gobbling up ground on the far outside. Hoosier Peekaboo had put away the challenge of Gumcorner Vicky and was holding on tenaciously along the inside. The two fillies then proceeded to hook up in a thrilling stretch duel through the final eighth of a mile. When the smoke cleared from this battle it was Pixie’s Dixie Gal who emerged on top as she prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:58². Hoosier Peekaboo was a hard fought second while Fox Valley Cordial (Ron Marsh) shook loose late to get the show dough.

Chrissy Koeppen Photo

Fox Valley Flan returned to action with a victory in the second division of Thursday night’s Violet Stake eliminations.

The nightcap provided no surprises as last season’s champion Fox Valley Flan returned to action with a flourish, winning by a widening seven and one half lengths in 1:58.

Bet to the exclusion of her seven rivals, Fox Valley Flan was given a confident drive from Andy Miller, who allowed his filly to settle in fifth as Kind Of Smokey (Mike Oosting) and Skinan (Steve Searle) slugged it out through an opening quarter of :30¹.

The pace began to heat up on the backside as Skinan pulled from the pocket after Kind Of Smokey made a break and trotted away to a four length advantage as she rolled past the half-mile mark in :59³. At this point Miller had seen enough and he decided to maneuver his filly to the outside of horses where she quickly began to cut into the leader’s advantage.

Moving around the final turn, Skinan was clinging to a half length advantage as Fox Valley Flan took dead aim on the pacesetter. Fox Valley Future (Brent Holland) had moved into good striking position as she charged up the pylons into third as the ladies moved by three-quarters in 1:29⁴.

In full flight as she set sail through the stretch, Fox Valley Flan quickly pulled away to a four length advantage by the mid-stretch call. A tired Skinan was trotting in second while Fox Valley Future gave chase in third.

Despite being under a tight hold by her pilot, Fox Valley Flan continued to increase her advantage as she trotted under the wire with her ninth win in 12 career starts. A winner of more than $156,000 for Tanah Merah Farms last year, this daughter of Vaporize appears poised to dominate her division once again as a sophomore.

Chrissy Koeppen Photo

Cinder Best and driver Eric Ledford teamed up for a record setting victory on Thursday night at Balmoral Park.

The Thursday night action was far from over though as the Filly and Mare Open provided another thrilling finish and a new track standard for the ladies as Thomas Gerdeman and Elaine Lauf’s Cinder Best tripped the timer in 1:50 to become the fastest female pacer in the history of Balmoral Park.

Using her potent closing kick, Cinder Best and driver Eric Ledford sat patiently at the back of the six horse field as Lou Annie (Ryan Anderson) ripped through fractions of :26⁴, :54¹ and 1:22³.

Following the cover of state-bred sensation Loyal Opposition, Cinder Best gradually wore down that rival as well as Parklane Powerful (Ron Marsh), who had grabbed command after Lou Annie tired from the brisk pace. Pacing a final quarter mile in a blistering :26², Cinder Best rolled under the wire with a two and one-quarter length victory while etching her name into the record books. Loyal Opposition and Parklane Powerful finished in a dead-heat for second while Lou Annie wound up fourth.

The win was the eighth in 11 starts for this seven-year-old daughter of Cambest. The Seldon Ledford-trainee also boasts career earnings of more than $636,000 during her illustrious career.