Crete, IL — State-bred trotting fillies were the focus of attention on Sunday (May 25) at Balmoral Park, as a field of 10 3-year-olds went toe-to-toe in the $47,600 Violet Stake as part of a big Memorial Day weekend of festivities at the Crete oval.

Proving that she will once again be a force to be reckoned with in this division, James Bafia and Eugene White’s Bailey’s Wish reported home with a hard fought neck decision in a career best 1:57.3 for driver Dave Magee.

After leaving quickly from post five Magee elected to let the hard charging Macie Rae (Ryan Anderson) and Say No Mo (John De Long) battle it out through splits of :29, :57.2 and 1:27.1.

After carving out a perfect pocket sitting journey while those two fillies battled tooth and nail, Magee showed his Hall of Fame skills as he slipped to the outside of Macie Rae as the field straightened for the money. Gradually wearing down the pacesetter, the Dirk Simpson trained miss gamely moved to the front with a sixteenth of a mile to go and then held off a late charge from longshot Rollette (Dean Magee) for her sixth lifetime victory. Macie Rae held on for third.

After starting this season with uncharacteristic breaks in two of her first three starts, the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Jen was as smooth as could be on Sunday night as she pushed her lifetime numbers to 6-4-2 in 18 starts with earnings of just over $129,000.

Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Melrose Park, IL — The late season surge of Amy Giberson, Stephanie Winship, Carl Lacy and Monty Thompson’s Silver Devil continued on Friday (Nov. 22) as the handsome roan gelding completely dismantled five other Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old pacing colts in a 6-1/4 length romp while taking the $15,000 Cole Muffler Stake at Maywood Park. The final time was 1:54.

Taking full advantage of a nice inside draw and the defection of his main rival, Mystical Walter, who was a judges scratch, the altered son of Duneside Perch-Armbro Wahine swept from third to first after watching Golden Nugget (Jason Brewer) and Fox Valley Norman (John Roberts) battle through an opening quarter in :27.4.

In command of the proceedings the rest of the way the Nick Giberson trained sophomore rattled off middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.4 while putting daylight between himself and his competition.

Leaving his rivals in his wake on the final turn, Silver Devil sealed the deal with a :28.1 final quarter to post his 11th win in 26 starts this season. Monopoly Man (John De Long) rallied to be second while Colechester (Sam Widger) finished a distant third.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, the 1-5 favorite of the betting public returned $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 while upping his record to 11-2-1 in 26 lifetime starts with earnings of $84,614.

Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park (reposted with permission)

Continuing a nice late season surge towards divisional honors, James Bafia and Eugene White’s Bailey’s Wish completely dominated nine rivals in the year’s richest race for Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old trotting fillies, winning Wednesday’s $105,000 Lady Lincoln Land Stake by 3 1/2 lengths at Balmoral Park. The final time was 1:59.4.

Given a perfect steer by driver Dave Magee, the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Jen was hustled to the front after landing in fourth through an opening quarter in 29.4.

“I knew we had to gain some early position since we were leaving from the eight hole,” explained Magee. “Once they started to slow down just a little bit on the front end I asked her to go and she moved up to the front very easily for me.”

Rolling through middle splits of 59.3 and 1:28.4, the Dirk Simpson trainee began to put daylight between herself and her struggling rivals as the field neared the top of the stretch.

On cruise control the rest of the way, Bailey’s Wish effortlessly trotted under the wire with her third win in her last four starts and her fourth win in 11 lifetime starts. Fox Valley Skylar (Dale Hiteman) rallied up the inside to finish second while Bands Pippa (Casey Leonard) was third.

“She was doing that all on her own,” said the Hall of Famer. “I don’t like to pressure her if I don’t have to. She just trotted right away from them and glided home with no urging from me whatsoever.”

The 8-5 co-favorite in the race returned $5.40, $3.20 and $3.00 while upping her career bankroll to $93,383.

Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)

Picking up right where he left off after posting seven wins, including four stake victories, on Saturday night’s card, driver Mike Oosting continued to dominate the Southland Festival of Racing action. guiding Derek Jacobus and Kevin Kline’s Divination to a three-quarter length score in Sunday’s $45,000 Fox Valley Evita Stake for Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old trotting fillies at Balmoral Park.

Confidently handled by Balmoral’s leading reinsman, the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Hocus Pocus was an unhurried fifth through the early stages as the Robert Taylor owned and trained entry of Little Ms Chrissy and Just For Fun (Casey Leonard) led the field through opening splits of :28.4 and 57.3.

Flushing out cover from a first over Trot Fudge Sundae (Dave Magee) as the field moved around the far turn, Oosting had Divination in a perfect second over striking position as Little Ms Chrissy showed the way by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.4.

“I knew it was time to go before those fillies up front got away from us,” said Oosting. “I needed to make the leaders go on because I didn’t know if my filly could out trot them from where we were. Getting cover was just an added bonus for us.”

Through the stretch a hard charging Divination took dead aim on a leg weary Little Ms Chrissy. Cruising down the center of the racetrack the five-time winner in 2013 swallowed up the pacesetter with a sixteenth of a mile to go and quickly drew clear for the victory. Little Ms Chrissy held on for second while Just For Fun was third.

“This filly is really starting to find her best stride right now,” said the red-hot Oosting. “She has always been right there with this group but she’s had a tough time getting by them. Nick (Prather) has done a great job getting her to come around at just the right time and it could be a very nice summer for her.”

With the win Divination now boasts a career record of 6-8-2 in 25 starts with earnings of $61,930.

Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)

The USTA’s Back To The Track weekend kicked off on Friday night and along with food, fun and some great giveaways, Maywood Park celebrated the event with a pair of state-bred stakes events featuring both the young and older stars of the Illinois Conceived and Foaled circuit.

In the night’s first event Megan Rogers’ recent acquisition, Unlocked made it four in a row to open his career, taking the $12,000 Fox Valley Barzgar Stake by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:56.3 for driver Dave Magee.

Just as he did in his victory in the Enzo The Baker Stake last week, driver Magee ducked off the gate with the son of Duneside Perch-Miss Major Power, getting away sixth as 75-1 longshot Marty Rucker (Dale Hiteman) led the field through an opening quarter in 29.0.

Moving first over as the field rolled by the stands for the first time Unlocked continued to draw closer to the pace setter, moving into third on the outside as the two-year-old colts reached the half-mile mark in a leisurely 58.2.

Finding his best stride as the field moved down the backstretch for the final time, the Nick Prather trainee was about to swallow up Marty Rucker as the two moved past the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.3.

Quickly drawing away from that rival on the final turn the undefeated colt was on cruise control the rest of the way, effortlessly keeping his entrymate The Fiscal Cliff (Mike Oosting) at bay through the lane. Fox Valley Nico (Casey Leonard) wound up finishing third, 5 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

With that perfect four-for-four record Unlocked now has career earnings of $22,500. Bet as though defeat was out of the question, the bay colt returned just $2.10 and $2.10. There was no show wagering on the race.

Some of the state’s top older pacers were in action n the night’s eighth race as an overflow field of 10 gathered for the $30,000 Cook County Stake

The USTA’s Back To The Track weekend kicked off on Friday night and along with food, fun and some great giveaways, Maywood Park celebrated the event with a pair of state-bred stakes events featuring both the young and older stars of the Illinois Conceived and Foaled circuit.

In the night’s first event Megan Rogers’ recent acquisition, Unlocked made it four in a row to open his career, taking the $12,000 Fox Valley Barzgar Stake by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:56.3 for driver Dave Magee.

Using the inside post on the half-mile oval to absolute perfection, driver Kyle Wilfong guided Fox Valley Yukon to a three-quarter-length triumph in 1:53.2 for the partnership of Rob Ritoff, Gail Sanders, M. De Vience and The Auglyn Corporation.

Leaving quickly from the inside starting spot Fox Valley Yukon grabbed early command then elected to let second tier starter, and 3-5 favorite Fort Silky (Casey Leonard), grab control of the proceedings as the field stormed by an opening quarter in 27.0.

Positioned perfectly in the pocket as Fort Silky led the field through middle splits of 55.4 and 1:24.1, Wilfong patiently waited for room for Fox Valley Yukon while Fort Silky was forced to fend off a first over bid from Gibbs (Robert Smolin).

Swinging to the outside as the field moved through the stretch the five-year-old son of Sportsmaster gradually wore down Fort Silky, eventually getting by the division leader in the final 100 yards with a 28.4 closing panel. Fort Silky was forced to settle for the runner-up role on this night while 35-1 longshot Sports Fanatic (Dean Magee) rallied to finish third.

The win was the third in 17 starts this year for Fox Valley Yukon, who now boasts career earnings of $220,842 while under the guidance of conditioner Rob Ritoff. Sent off as the second choice in the field of 10, Fox Valley Yukon returned $13.40, $4.40 and $4.00.

Tom Kelley, Maywood Park (reposted with permission)

Showing that a little experience can go a long way, Bruce and Mary Alexander’s Western Dame rebounded from a break in her career debut to post a resounding 5 1/4 length romp over seven other Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old pacing fillies in Thursday’s $12,000 My Metallica Stake at Maywood Park. The final time was 1:57.1.

Storming up from first over from fourth as 1-5 favorite April May Dune (Brian Carpenter) rolled through quick opening splits of 27.4 and 58.2, a confident Casey Leonard swept up to grab command with Western Dame as the field headed by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.0.

The issue was never in doubt from that point on as the daughter of Sagebrush-Dixie Dame began to put daylight between herself and the rest of the field, pacing home in 29.1 to secure her maiden breaking score. Ineverkissandtell (Ronnie Gillespie) turned a perfect ground saving trip into a second place finish while Party Hangover Two (John De Long) finished third.

Dispatched at odds of 9-1 after that troubled trip in her debut, the Gary Rath-trained miss returned $21.80, $7.00 and $4.40 to her backers

Tom Kelley, Maywood Park (reposted with permission)

Flashing the form that made her one of the best two-year-old filly trotters in the Prairie State last season, Robert and Donnie Taylor’s Little Ms Chrissy notched her second straight stakes score in 2013 as she parlayed a perfect pocket sitting trip into a 1 ½ length victory in Wednesday’s $12,000 Sorce Ann Stake. The final time of 1:54.4 was a new life mark for the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz.

Settling neatly into the two hole as the favored Sara The Spy (Todd Warren) carved out splits of 28.2, 57.0 and 1:26.1, driver-trainer Robert Taylor was perfectly content to save ground until the stretch drive.

Gamely wearing down the leader with less than a sixteenth of a mile to go, this six-time winner in 2012 trotted home in 28.2 to notch her second win in five starts this season. Sara The Spy was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role on this night while Trot Fudge Sundae (Dave Magee) was third in the field of six.

Sent off as the second choice in the wagering after her entrymate Just For Fun was scratched sick, Little Ms Chrissy returned $6.60, $2.80 and $2.40 while upping her career bankroll to an impressive $148,845

Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)

Continuing her early season roll Rocco Ruffolo’s prize acquisition, Aliyah Maria, had no trouble dispatching 10 other Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing fillies in Sunday’s $12,000 Betzotic Stake as she cruised to a 1 3/4 length victory in 1:53.3 for driver Todd Warren.

Settling into fifth as Dune In Red (Dean Magee) and State Street Liz (Robert Smolin) battled through an opening quarter in 28.3, Warren waited patiently before sending the daughter of Duneside Perch-Maria Maria on a backside brush to the front.

Quickly sweeping by her rivals Aliyah Maria easily overtook Dune In Red and was a 1 1/4 lengths in front as the fillies hit the half-mile mark in 58.1.

Moving effortlessly around the far turn the Roger Welch-trained miss began to put some daylight between herself and the pocket sitting Dune In Red as she sped by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:26.3.

With plenty left in the tank Aliyah Maria sped home in 27.0, easily keeping her rivals at bay while securing her fourth win in 10 starts this season. State Street Liz re-rallied to finish second while longshot Incredible Filly shook loose late to finish third.

With the win on Sunday night Aliyah Maria now boasts a record of 4-4-0 in 10 starts this year with earnings of $48,686.

Hammered at the betting windows, Aliyah Maria returned just $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Trifecta players were rewarded with a nice payout though with 58-1 and 60-1 shots finishing second and third respectively: the triple came back at a healthy $828.60 for a $2 wager.

Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)

After a two-year-old campaign in which she finished first or second in 10 of 11 starts, Robert and Donnie Taylor’s Little Ms Chrissy finally found the form which netted her nearly $130,000 in earnings last season as she captured Sunday’s $12,000 Betzotic Stake by one length in a career best of 1:56.4.

Patiently handled by owner-trainer-driver Robert Taylor, the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz came away second to last in the field of six state-bred trotters as her stablemate Just For Fun (Casey Leonard) led the field through splits of 29.4, 59.4 and 1:28.4.

Moving up second over with live cover from Divination (Mike Oosting) as the field reached the top of the stretch, the bay filly was in perfect striking position as the fillies headed for pay dirt.

After watching the pocket sitting favorite Sara The Spy (Todd Warren) make a costly break, Taylor began to reel in Just For Fun and the hard charging Divination. Rattling off an impressive final split of 27.3, Little Ms Chrissy trotted right by the top pair for her first win in five tries this year. Divination was second while Just For Fun held on for third.

With the win Little Ms Chrissy now owns a record of seven wins, four seconds and one third in 16 starts with earnings of $142,845 for her proud connections.

Tom Kelly, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)

Fresh off an impressive win in his career debut in last week’s $6,000 Bingo Johnnie Stake, Bart Seales Unlocked continued to impress fans of the Chicago circuit as he rolled to a decisive eight-length victory in Sunday’s $15,000 Wicked Brew Stake. The final time of 1:53.3 was the fastest mile of the year by any two-year-old in North America as of Sunday night.

Placed in mid-pack by driver Kyle Husted, the homebred son of Duneside Perch-Miss Major Power used a huge backside brush to sweep by early leaders Wimpy Doodle (Art Gregory Jr) and Diddy Dune (Jamaica Patton) as those two exchanged stints on the front end through opening splits of 28.3 and 56.3.

Heading around the final bend the Curtis Rice trainee blew right by the pace setters, quickly opening up a five-length advantage while speeding by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.0.

With nothing but the clear crisp Crete air between themselves and a second straight victory, Husted and Unlocked set sail for the wire, finishing off their rivals with an effortless 28.3 final quarter to keep their perfect record intact. Cotton Eyed Joe (Robert Smolin) came on late to finish a strong second while longshot Bloodbath McGrath (John De Long) rallied late to pick up the show dough.

Hammered at the betting windows after that impressive win in his career debut, Unlocked returned $3.60, $2.60 and $2.40 to his legion of backers.

Tom Kelley, Balmoral Park (reposted with permission)