by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Freshmen pacers stepped into the spotlight on Saturday, August 2 at Balmoral Park as a pair of Hanover Stakes for 2-year-olds shared top billing on the big 13-race card.

Balmoral Park photo

Gold Star Image and driver Dale Hiteman were strong to the finish while knocking off eight rivals in the $34,900 Hanover Stake for 2-year-old.

The boys kicked off the action as a field of nine were sent postward for a $34,900 jackpot. Despite a win in his last start and the fact he was part of a three-horse entry Kay Willis’s Gold Star Image escaped at odds of 7-1 and the rapidly improving youngster made his doubters pay as he rolled to a 2-1/4 length victory in a career best of 1:53.2 for driver Dale Hiteman.

Leaving quickly from post 10, the gelded son of Rockin Image—Village Mimic settled into a nice spot in fourth as Lucpark (Dave Magee) and Indian Outlaw (Travis Seekman) battled through an opening quarter in 27.2.

With several horses getting underway from the back of the pack, Hiteman quickly maneuvered the Nelson Willis trainee to the outside, charging to the front as the field reached the half in 56.4.

In control of things around the bend Gold Star Image proceeded to lead the field through three-quarters in 1:25.2.

After turning aside a first-over bid from Earndawg (Pat Curtin) the $4,000 bargain yearling buy dug in gamely holding last week’s Mini Me Stake winner King of the Swamp (Todd Warren) and the ground saving Lucpark at bay through the lane. A late charging Indian Outlaw shook loose in time to rally for the place money while King Of The Swamp salvaged the show dough.

Gold Star Image returned a healthy $17.80, $6.40 & $4.60 while running his record to 2-0-1 in 4 starts with earnings of $19,930.

A compact field of five fillies was sent postward in their Hanover test and once again Leyland Mathias and Paymaq Racing’s Mr Leland’s Filly continued to turn heads with her big closing kick as she rallied for a 1-1/2 length triumph in 1:54.3 with Casey Leonard in tow.

Content to save ground while chief rival Lex (Kyle Wilfong) strolled through splits of 29.1 & 58.3 Leonard finally moved the daughter of Sportsmaster—Incredible Katie to the outside as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.3.

With the pace-setter begin to drift a bit in the lane, Leonard dove back to the inside with the Ervin Miller trained miss and she responded beautifully, gobbling up the leader and quickly drawing clear for her second straight stakes score. Lex held on for second while another Miller trainee, Angel Demon (Ryan Anderson) was third.

Heavily backed at the betting windows after her win in the Loyal Opposition Stake last week Mr Leyland’s Filly returned $3.40, $2.20 & $2.10 while upping her record to 2-0-0 in four starts with earnings of $35,770.

The Hanover Stakes action continues on Sunday with a pair of events for 2-year-old trotters. State-bred trotters will also be in action in the $25,000 Mikes A Mystery Stake. Post time is 7:10 p.m. for the Sunday card. Both Balmoral & Maywood will then be dark for live racing until Friday, August 15 (Maywood) and Saturday, August 16 (Balmoral) as the action heads to Springfield for the State Fair Stakes.