The 2 YO pacing fillies raised and sold by the UI Horse Farm finished 1 -2, and daughters of UI Horse Farm Stallion Sagebrush finished 1-2-3 in the $35,000 Filly Pace Championship of the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes on Wednesday, August 17th. Razzleme Dazzleme moved first-over just before the half-mile pole while brisk fractions of 26.3 and 54.4 were set by her stablemate San Antonio Rose. Razzleme Dazzleme continued to stalk the pace-setter while parked 2-wide; pulling within a half-length of San Antonio Rose at the ¾ pole in a time of 1:24. As Razzleme Dazzleme bore down on her barn mate through the stretch, a fresh Artemesia, who had followed Razzleme Dazzleme’s every move from the half-mile mark, tipped off cover and brushed past the game Razzleme Dazzleme in the shadow of the wire. Artemesia’s win came with a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2. The very brave Razzleme Dazzleme finished a half-length behind the winner and held second by a nose over a rapidly closing Dee Tumbleweed who claimed third ahead of the tiring San Antonio Rose. The win-place-show order of Artemesia, Razzleme Dazzleme and Dee Tumbleweed completed the “Sagebrush Trifecta”, as all 3 fillies on the tote board were daughters of the outstanding UI pacing stallion Sagebrush.

Also of note was the fact that both Artemesia and Razzleme Dazzleme were trained by Rushville, IL Conditioner Nick Prather, who sent out 3 fillies in the Championship race, including San Antonio Rose.

Kevin H. Kline