by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — State-bred trotting colts took to the track on Wednesday night (July 15) at Balmoral Park as a total of 13 diagonally gaited freshmen met in a pair of $5,000 Psychic Spirit Stake splits which were carded as non-wagering events.

Rock Hollywood and driver-trainer Mike Brink flew by their rivals to win the first of two Psychic Spirit Stake splits.

In the first division the Mike Brink owned, trained and driven Rock Hollywood trotted right by his rivals in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1.

Content to sit in mid-pack as Showmeyourstuff (Marcus Miller) put up splits of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1, Brink then picked up live cover from a first over Big Bucks (Homer Hochstetler) as the field hit the top of the stretch.

Tipping three wide off his cover the son of Psychic Spirit-Serafina The Great looked like a seasoned veteran as he cruised by the leaders to win his career debut. Kid Cormac (Dave Magee) benefited from a nice ground saving trip to get the place money while Showmeyourstuff held on for third.

Balmoral Park photos

Fox Valley Rival was a wire-to- wire winner in the nightcap of the Psychic Spirit Stake.

The second division figured to be a showcase for the highly regarded Shore Road but the gelding made a break behind the gate once again and was never a factor as Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Rival went wire-to-wire in 2:00.

Hustled away from post position two by driver Brian Carpenter the son of International Chip-Reina Belle strolled through leisurely fractions of :31.1, 1:01.1 and 1:31 before finishing things off with a :29 final quarter to win by 3-1/4 lengths. Smoken Homer (J.D. Finn) came on late to finish second while Muscatine (Dale Hiteman) rallied for third.