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.

In recent years, the UI Horse Farm has had good success in producing top performers like Rev Me Up p, 3, 1:51.2, r.t. p, 4, 1:50.3 ($321,205) and Steak and Gravy p, 1:53.4H ($166,978) from its pacing broodmares. However, the trotting band was sparsely populated with only two broodmares. The trotting side of the UI herd has taken a big step forward with the recent acquisitions of the mares Fox Valley Shiraz T, 2, 2:05.2H ($7,771) (International Chip – Pacific Chardonnay – Super Bowl), Maplegrove Natalie T, 2, 2:00.2; r.t. T, 2, 1:57.4 ($68,207) (American Native – Maple Grove Glide – Yankee Glide), Reigning Chip T, 3, Q 1:59.4F ($6,827) (Pine Chip – Crown Guest – Royal Prestige) and Selma (Valley Victor – Wall Street Floozy – Wall Street Banker)

Soon after the UI Horse Farm acquired Fox Valley Shiraz, her 2 year old colt Mucho Bueno T, 2, 1:58.4 ($51,650) came on like gangbusters to become the top ICF money-winning 2 year old trotting colt of 2011 with wins in the $53,500 Plesac Stake at Balmoral Park and in the $45,000 IL State Fair Colt Stakes final. Maple Grove Natalie, a multiple stakes-winner herself and the dam of only a yearling and weanling thus far in her young career, saw her full sister Maple Grove Shaelyn T, 3, 1:55.0M ($78,276) become the fastest and richest ICF 3 year old trotting filly in 2011 with wins in the $45,000 IL State Fair 3 YO Filly Trot final and the $103,000 Lady Ann Reed Stake final on Super Night at Balmoral Park. After acquiring top new trotting mares like these with close connections to current champions, in addition to sisters to Regal Visitor T, 1:54.4 ($234,863) and Litigator T, 1:54.3F ($477,625), the UI Horse Farm expects to make a more significant contribution to the list of ICF trotting champions in the very near future.

All year long, UI-bred filly Rev Me Up p, 3, 1:51.2 ($200,110) battled the best fillies in Illinois and across the country, and ended 2010 as the leading money-winning 3 YO filly in the Land of Lincoln.

Despite an unfortunate miscue in her final start in the American National Stake against USTA 3 YO Filly of The Year, Put On A Show, Rev Me Up earned a total of $179,265 in 2010 to lead all sophomore Illinois-bred fillies. Not content to simply tackle in-state rivals, Rev Me Up took on top fillies in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana while acquitting herself admirably against the best open company. Rev Me Up won the final of the Hopeful series and a leg of the Petticoat series at Yonkers, as well as two ISOBA Stakes wins, the final of the Hanover Stake and final of the Circle City Stake. The UI Horse Farm looks forward to more great accomplishments from Rev Me Up as well as many other upcoming 2 and 3 YO stars in the year 2011.

Toronto, ON — After being scratched from the Cam Fella Stakes elimination in his most recent start, St Elmo Hero made his Woodbine debut a winning one on Saturday (April 2) to extend his unbeaten streak to 25 with a 1:51.1 score in the C$28,000 Preferred 2 Pace.

The son of Western Hero was urged on from the start as driver Jody Jamieson rolled him to the front past O K Boromir at the quarter in :27. Heading towards the half, Lennon Blue Chip, who was sitting third, angled to the outside and took over command in :55.2.

As the field marched into the final turn, Rock Me Please made the first-over attack from fourth but flushed the cover of St Elmo Hero before three-quarters in 1:23.2.

When the field turned for home, St Elmo Hero showed his true class and began to sprint away from his rivals using a :27.4 final quarter to win in 1:51.1. Rock Me Please stayed for second over O K Boromir, who used a ground saving trip, with Lennon Blue Chip fourth.

“He is just a terrific horse to drive,” Jamieson said after the win. “I was surprised that Mark (MacDonald) came at me when I made the front. I decided to pull before the three-quarters because I didn’t want to get locked it. When you’re trying to keep a horse’s huge unbeaten streak alive, you have to take your shot and move him.

“When I pulled him to the outside, he was pacing so hard that I had to keep him together. Once we straightened up he was gone. He’s a contender in the Open ranks this year, that’s for sure.”

Owned by John Barnard, St Elmo Hero lifted his career earnings to C$216,950. He paid $2.90 to win.

Greg Gangle, WEG Media

Columbus, OH — St Elmo Hero, who ran his winning streak to 23 during the month of January, has been named the Horse of the Month (for the second straight month) by the U.S. Trotting Association.

St Elmo Hero won four times in January at Meadowlands Racetrack, capped off by a Jan. 29 score in the $65,000 Complex Series final for pacers ages 5 and under, with Tim Tetrick picking up his 6,000th career win in the process. St Elmo Hero won by 1-1/4 lengths over Windsong Gorgeous in a stakes-record 1:49.1 in the snow.

St Elmo Hero also posted victories in both preliminary legs of the series, scoring in 1:50.3 in the first leg on Jan. 15 and in 1:50.1 in the second leg on Jan. 22. His first start of the month came in an overnight event on Jan. 8 at the Meadowlands and resulted in a 1:50.4 score.

St Elmo Hero is owned by John Barnard of Orland Park, Ill., and is trained by Charles Eustis III. The January triumphs brought his lifetime earnings to $197,500. Barnard says when he bought St Elmo Hero for $6,000, he had modest goals. “I was hoping I made a good claim,” he told the media after the win in the Complex final. “It’s obviously turned out really well, but we were just hoping to get a good conditioned horse and he’s exceeded every dream we ever had for the horse. From the beginning, there were a lot of people who thought he’d win a bunch in a row. There were guesses of 11, 12, 15 in a row that they thought he could win because of the competition he was going to be up against. I don’t think anyone bet on 23.”

Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

East Rutherford, NJ — St Elmo Hero kept his perfect record intact in his Meadowlands debut on Saturday night (Jan. 8). With Tim Tetrick at the lines, St Elmo Hero led from gate to wire as he extended his streak to 20 wins in the second race, a $20,000 prep race for the Complex Series. He was clocked in 1:50.4.

The son of Western Hero has been perfect since winning his career debut on July 14, 2010, at Balmoral Park. Illinois owner John Barnard claimed the previously unraced 4-year-old gelding out of that start for $8,000 and he has since won $145,000. Charles Eustis III trains St Elmo Hero. “He is so easy to get along with,” Eustis said. “Whatever you ask him to do, he just does it. You can drive him with two fingers. When he sees another horse, that’s when he wants to go.”

St Elmo Hero has won all but two of his races on the front end, but Eustis is confident the gelding will be able to handle racing from off the pace at the Meadowlands. He has 20 wins and only two races has he come from behind,” he noted. “In one of them, he came from dead last. He relaxes when he is on top and controls things, but he can race from behind if he needs to.”

Eustis is most proud of St Elmo Hero’s victory in the Blue Route Final on Dec. 20, 2010 at Chester, in which he held off Meirs Hanover for a career-best 1:50.1 clocking. “Meirs Hanovers is a really nice horse and he fought him down to the wire,” he said. “The margin was only a neck, but that was his best win so far and his record, too.”

Eustis admits he feels pressure to keep the streak alive when the three-week Complex Series begins next Saturday at the Meadowlands. “I know he may get beat at some point,” he said. “Most good horses do, but the big thing with him is just to keep him healthy and sound.”

Amy Silver, publicity director, Meadowlands Racetrack