by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — The Illinois bred freshmen trotting set enjoyed their “Super Night” on Thursday at Balmoral Park, as the ladies battled in the $120,000 Lady Lincoln Land, while their male counterparts slugged it out in the $114,00 Lincoln Land Stake.
As is often the case the first turn can prove to be quite an adventure for these youngsters and the Lady Lincoln Land Final was no different as three of the 10 starters, including the undefeated 3-5 favorite Turbulent Victoria, made breaks.
His Mssse Ja and driver John Roberts had no trouble negotiating the first though as these two sped off to an early two and a half length advantage as they blew past the opening station in :274.
The daughter of Armbro Charger was a handful for her pilot as they raced down the backstretch and she was still well in front as she rolled by the half-mile mark with a three length lead in :561.
Despite being strung out on the far turn a decent outer flow began to develop as the pacesetter began to shorten her stride just a bit. The Ronnie Roberts trained miss still had two lengths on her rivals as she trotted by the three-quarters in 1:262 but a first over Pa-High (John D. Finn) was leading up a headstrong Arcola and driver Tim Tetrick as they straightened for home.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/5544-040924bpARCOLA.jpg)
Chrissy Koeppen Photo
Arcola rallied to win the Lady Lincoln Land Final at Balmoral.
The torrid fractions began to take their toll on His Mssse Ja as Arcola continued to swallow up ground with long fluid strides on the outside of horses. By the mid-stretch call the lead had evaporated to just a length and that advantage was short lived as Arcola cruised right on by to win by four lengths in a career best of 1:574. His Mssse Ja held on for second while Silhouette Star (Ron Marsh) finished third.
With the win Arcola jumps to the head of this division as she now sports a record of six victories, three seconds and one third in 11 starts, with earnings of $122,882 for owners Morton and Michael Turndorf.
Things held true to form in the Lincoln Land Final as the two heavy favorites Vanished (6-5) and Victrola (9-5) battled tooth and nail to the wire with the latter prevailing by a neck after a thrilling stretch drive.
Given a picture perfect drive by Andy Miller, this son of Valley Victor was hustled away from post position six by his pilot and they were comfortably tucked in the third spot as Dabra (Tim Tetrick) sped by the quarter pole in :281.
Continuing to save ground all the way to the half-mile mark, Victrola was getting set to make his move as Dabra continued to show the way past the half in :573.
Trotting around the final turn, Miller maneuvered his charge to the outside, flushing out the pocket sitting Sea M Dee (Dave Magee), who quickly put a head in front of Dabra as the field reached the three-quarter mile mark in 1:281.
Heading through the lane Victrola swung to the outside of horses where he quickly gobbled up the top two while being very carefully handled by his pilot. Moving by the eighth-pole Ron Marsh finally found room with the favored Vanished and these two were motoring between horses to challenge.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/5544-040924bpVICTROLA.jpg)
Chrissy Koeppen Photo
Victrola held off Vanished in the Lincoln Land Final.
Digging in gamely for the late duel, Victrola managed to hold off the hard charging Vanished in 1:573, avenging a loss to his main rival in the Darn Safe at Du Quoin earlier this month. Dabra finished a distant third, 14 lengths behind the top two.
The division leader, who is conditioned by Tom Graham, Sr., now boasts a record of nine wins and six seconds in 15 starts, with earnings of $116,628 for owner Carol Graham.