The University of Illinois stallion Southwind Breeze had two dominant winners at the Macon County Fair’s Downstate Classic Stake on June 9^th 2013; siring the filly division winner Divination and colt and gelding division winner Gonnagetya.

In the $6,428 first filly division of the Downstate Classic, trainer/driver Nick Prather made every call a winning one as he rolled Divination, the Southwind Breeze daughter out of Miss Hocus Pocus, right to the front as the gate folded. Divination continued to lead the way through splits of 31.2, 1:01.3 and 1:33.4. At the ¾ mile marker, the fast filly Powerful Goddess moved up beside Divination in a bid for the lead. After Divination rebuffed Powerful Goddess’ bid and began to pull away, her rival broke stride, leaving Divination all alone coming down the stretch. Divination’s final margin of victory was 14 lengths in a time of 2:03.1, the faster of the two Downstate Classic heats for 3 YO filly trotters. Repeated In Red and En Divine were second and third, respectively.

In the $7,684 first colt and gelding division of the Downstate Classic, driver Freddy Patton hustled Manuel Wilson’s good-looking Southwind Breeze colt Gonnagetya out of the gate and never looked back.   He posted fractions of 32.0, 1:02.2 and 1:33.1 enroute to a dominating 4 ½ length win in 2:03.2. Gonnagetya was challenged only once at the quarter mile marker by Mack’s Gold Band, but easily sprinted away as his rival retreated and settled for second position. At the finish, Gonnagetya was on cruise control as Mack’s Gold Band barely held on for second in a photo finish over the determined final bid of Balanced Game who had recovered from an early break in stride.

Kevin H. Kline

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

Little Ms Chrissy captured the $118,000 Lady Lincoln Land Stake for freshman trotting fillies on Oct. 3 at Balmoral Park.

Owned by Robert and Donnie Taylor and driven by trainer Robert, the obscurely-bred daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz posted a 1:58.3 clocking in her fourth win of the season in eight starts. She also has a trio of seconds to her credit in her first year of racing.

Favored Trot Fudge Sundae, with Dave Magee driving, took the early lead and cruised through an opening panel of :29.1, before tripping the timer at the half in :59. Taylor had Little Ms Chrissy out and moving through the final turn, following Trot Fudge Sundae past the 1:28.4 three-quarter mile marker, on the outside behind Powerful Goddess and driver Mike Cox.

“My original plan was to try and leave out of there and sit right on Dave Magee’s helmet since everybody knew she was the one to beat,” Taylor offered. “Fortunately, we wound up with a perfect second over journey, and she really felt good as we went around the turn.”

In the final yards, the hard-trying lass wore down the leader and went on to win by one and ½ lengths.

“She’s been good all year long and we’ve done our best to take care of her,” said Taylor. “She’s a good gaited filly but the trotting hopples that we added a few starts back have helped her get through the first turn a little easier and I think they’ve helped her become a little more patient. We’ll try “open” company in the Hanover for her next start and then we’ll finish out the year in the Violet with her before giving her some time to relax and grow up a little more.”

Little Ms Chrissy was sent off as the second favorite via the wagering public, and pushed her career earnings to $96,410.

Kimberly Rinker, Balmoral Stakes

The action on and off the track was fast and furious on Saturday, July 28, as a big crowd flocked to Balmoral Park for the Chicago Southland Festival of Racing. Along with a taco eating contest, salsa tasting contest, live music and plenty of other giveaways and food and drink specials there was also plenty of action on the track as some of Illinois’ best pacers and trotters battled for more than $300,000 in purse money in five stake finals.

Freshman pacing fillies kicked off the night’s action with a field of 10 going postward in the $64,000 Loyal Opposition Stake. Despite leaving from the outside post, the Stanley Miller-owned and trained Special Rose managed to work out a perfect trip and the daughter of Duneside Perch-Orgami Rose turned that into an impressive 2 ¼ length victory in 1:55.0.

Hustled away from the far outside post by driver John Roberts, the good-looking chestnut landed in third through the early going as Dune In Red (Mike Oosting) led the field through splits of 28.0, 57.1 and 1:25.3.

“Being able to find a good early spot was the entire key to this filly’s chances,” explained winning driver John Roberts. “Once we were lucky enough to land where we did I figured we’d just sit in and save ground the rest of the way and see what happened.”

With some expert reinsemanship from Roberts, Special Rose was able to maneuver her way through traffic, swinging to the outside of horses in the late going, and then rallying sharply to post her first career victory. Thank You Doc (Dean Magee) was second after a tough first over journey while Incredible Filly (Dave Magee) was third.

The win was the first in a six-race career for Special Rose who returned $17.60, $7.20 and $4.60.

In the second of two Loyal Opposition stake eliminations on Saturday, July 21, Michael Einhaus’s Dune In Red continued her impressive first season as she cruised to a three-quarter-length victory in 1:55.4.

Confidently handled by driver Mike Oosting the striking chestnut daughter of Duneside Perch-She Has The Look saved ground early, then moved up outside of horses after splits of 28.3, 57.4 and 1:27.3. The long striding filly then unleashed a 27.4 final quarter to post her fourth win in seven lifetime starts. Debi Dune (Marcus Miller) was a hard fought second while C Roc Party (Dave Magee) finished third. Also making the final were the Duneside Perch daughter Special Rose, and the Sagebrush daughter Incredible Filly, who finished second and third, respectively, in the first elimination. The Duneside Perch daughter Six Easy Hotspur, who was fifth in the second elimination, also moves on to the $64,000 final on July 28, 2012.

Her undefeated streak was on the line June 20th in the $15,000 Incredible Tilly Stakes for Illinois 2-year-old pacing fillies and Mike Einhaus’s Dune In Red remained perfect to start her career by posting her third win in as many tries, knocking off seven rivals by 3-¾ lengths, in 1:56.1.

Forwardly placed throughout the mile by driver Mike Oosting the daughter of Duneside Perch–She Has The Look rushed into the lead after a slow opening quarter of: 30.1.

Shortly after gaining control of the proceedings, Oosting elected to let a hard-charging The Bruzilian Blur (Brian Carpenter) take command as the field rolled by the half-mile mark in: 58.3.

Content to draft along in the pocket Dune In Red was fit and fresh as The Bruzilian Blur tried to fend off a bid from a first-over Fox Valley Ruby (Dean Magee) as the youngsters reached the three-quarter mile mark in 1:28.

Patiently awaiting the passing lane while those two continued to slug it out, Oosting then maneuvered the Robert Einhaus-trained miss down to the pylons and the good-looking chestnut responded like a seasoned veteran as she went cruising by her rivals to remain undefeated. The Bruzilian Blur hung on for second while Incredible Filly (Dave Magee) rallied for third.

Offspring of University of Illinois resident stallion Sagebrush continued their domination of ICF 3 YO pacers by sweeping both the $112,000 Filly Maywood Pace and the $123,000 Maywood Pace for colts and geldings on June 15th and June 22nd, respectively. Sleazy Does It and Marcus Miller won the $112,000 Filly Maywood Pace on 6/15/12.

Sleazy Does It now boasts a career record of 6-6-3 in 19 starts with earnings of nearly $165,000 after posting a 1 ¾ length victory in 1:54.3 with Marcus Miller at the controls. After Miller was able to avoid traffic trouble due to a break by Fox Valley Hermia (Ronnie Gillespie), the daughter of Sagebrush-Da Sleazy One began to circle horses, quickly swallowing up Party Hangover (John De Long) who had been stuck first over for quite some time. With clear sailing the Nelson Willis-trained miss set sail for home, rewarding a legion of backers who had hammered her down to even money. Longshot Melodie Hotspur (Mike Oosting), who was a surprise winner in last week’s elimination action, rallied late to be the bridesmaid while Party Hangover wound up third.

Stevanna Turner and John Fletcher’s NJ’s Big Deal continued to lead the division through the first half of the season as he turned in a huge effort to post a thrilling neck decision in 1:53.0. Despite being late to the gate and spotting the field a couple of lengths at the start, NJ’s Big Deal was in front as the field reached the opening station in 28.0. “I was so relieved that we were still able to get to the front because I kind of mistimed getting to the gate,” said Gillespie. “Then when the five horse (Uncle Smoothie) made a break it really made it a lot easier for us to get there without having to use him too hard.” In control of the proceedings, NJ’s Big Deal continued to roll along with a 1 ½ length lead as he cruised by the half-mile mark in 57.1.

With that soft second quarter under his belt Gillespie and NJ’s Big Deal continued to show the way to the three-quarter-mile mark, with a hard charging Crime Of Passion (Marcus Miller) leading a developing outer flow as the sophomores raced by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.2. Despite Crime Of Passion getting almost three-quarters of a length in front of NJ’s Big Deal on the final turn Gillespie was confident that his colt still had more left and stepped on the gas again, regaining the lead as the field moved into the stretch.

A thrilling stretch duel ensued with NJ’s Big Deal clinging to a short lead while Crime Of Passion tried to re-rally just outside of him. After following the cover of Crime Of Passion, Al’s Hammered (Robert Smolin) was also making up ground on the far outside of horses after tipping three wide at the top of the stretch. A locked and loaded Fox Valley Mahalo (Todd Warren) was also right there just waiting for a shot to get into the passing lane. With the four pacers spread out across the track NJ’s Big Deal dug in gamely, holding off Crime Of Passion for his fifth win in 12 starts this season. Crime Of Passion was forced to settle for second while Fox Valley Mahalo was third. Al’s Hammered was fourth, just a neck behind as 1 ¼ lengths separated the top five finishers in the race.

After the thrilling victory a joyous Gillespie relived the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. “Tonight we came out on top and this is the greatest feeling in the world,” he said. “Last week wasn’t so good when Fox Valley Hermia made a break in the final turn while leading the Filly Maywood Pace. I guess that’s the way this game goes.”

Sent off as 2-1 co-favorite in the race, NJ’s Big Deal returned $6.20, $4.40 and $2.60 while running his career record up to 13-4-4 in 33 starts with earnings of $142,080.

Crete, IL — Balmoral Park fans got a sneak peek at some of this year’s 2-year-old filly pacing crop here in the Prairie State on Wednesday night as a field of eight youngsters went postward in the $6,000 Egyptian Grande Stakes.

Fresh off an impressive win in the second of two qualifying efforts, the Mike Einhaus-owned Dune In Red posted an impressive, 5-¼ length romp in a national season’s best of 1:55.2 with Mike Oosting at the controls.

Hustled away from post position seven, the chestnut daughter of Duneside Perch–She Has The Look landed in third as Special Rose (John Roberts) led the field through an opening quarter in :29.2. Oosting then maneuvered his filly to the outside where she quickly shot to the top — looking like a seasoned veteran — leading the field through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1 while beginning to put distance between herself the rest of the field.

With nothing but open ground in front of her, Dune In Red then flew home in a strong :27.1 to seal the deal in an eye-catching debut. Incredible Filly (Dave Magee) turned a ground-saving trip into a second place check while Special Rose finished third.

From the first crop of Duneside Perch, the Robert Einhaus-trained miss was a $7,700 yearling purchase, and judging by her effort on Wednesday night that price looks like it may have been quite a bargain.

Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Continuing to show that she is one of the top distaffers on the Chicagoland circuit, Frank Baldachino and Earl J. Smith’s Rev Me Up toyed with nine other filly and mare pacers as she rolled to a 1 ¾ length victory in Sunday’s $14,500 Fox Valley Mystery Stake at Balmoral Park.

Confidently handled by driver Eric Carlson, the four-year-old daughter of Park Place floated away in fourth as Joinusforsomefun (Kyle Wilfong) led the field through an opening quarter in 27.4.

Electing to put his mare in control of the proceedings, Carlson quickly moved to the outside as the field raced down the backstretch and the Kathy Millman trainee swept to the top as the field raced by the half-mile mark in 57.0.

Getting a 29.1 breather as most of the field sat tight around the far turn, Rev Me Up was still fit and fresh as she sped by the three-quarter-mile station in 1:26.1.

The issue was never in doubt from that point on as the classy mare sped home in 27.0 to secure the victory while under very little urging from her pilot. Joinusforsomefun followed the winner’s every move for the final three-quarters of a mile to finish in the bridesmaid role, while Reilly’s Daughter (Todd Warren) overcame some early traffic problems to rally from far back to finish a nice third.

The win was the sixth in 33 starts for this tough-as-nails mare who now boasts $374,209 in career earnings. Rev Me Up has hit the board in 41 of her last 61 starts for her proud connections.

Sent off as the half-money choice of the betting public Rev Me Up returned $3.00, $2.20 and $2.20.

The dynamic young UI Horse Farm stallion Duneside Perch caught the attention of yearling buyers in 2011 with his first crop of yearlings. Trainers and owners were impressed with the balance, athleticism and size of his offspring, and they bid an average of $10,080 on 34 head sold at both the Land of Lincoln and Illini Classic Yearling Sales. The University of Illinois consignments to both sales bettered the overall figures for the Duneside Perch babies with an average of $13,540 for 7 yearlings sold at both sales.

The UI Horse Farm consigned the overall top-selling yearling from the first crop of Duneside Perch, Notorious Card Shark, who fetched a final bid of $35,000 from Mystical Marker Farm at the Land Of Lincoln Yearling Sale. Notorious Card Shark was the first stud colt from the UI-owned mare Shady RN, who had previously produced some respectable fillies and is from the outstanding maternal family of Romola Hanover. Notorious Card Shark impressed most trainers with his size, balance and correctness, and his long powerful strides when in the turnout pen. The UI Horse Farm Consignment to the Land Of Lincoln Sale also included the colts Beachside Bungalow (Duneside Perch – Pleasure Beach) selling for $20,000 to the Cheap Speed Stable, Inc. and Dakota Gray (Duneside Perch – Armbro Wahine) selling to Mark Winship for $18,000.

The UI Horse Farm wishes everyone that purchased a Duneside Perch yearling in 2011 the best of racing luck in 2012.