Contact: Tom Kelley

YOUNGSTERS SHINE IN EGYPTIAN GRANDE SPLITS

Racing fans got their first look at this year’s Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old filly pacing crop as a total of 13 youngsters met in a pair of $5,000 Egyptian Grande Stake divisions.

In the opener James & Terri Blackman’s homebred Dingy’s Model came flying down the lane to win her debut by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.4.

Patiently handled like a youngster should be by driver Sam Widger, this daughter of Armbro Mackintosh sat sixth and last as Laffy Taffy (Ryan Anderson) & Ali Cat (Dave Magee) traded turns on the lead. Despite the battle for early command the fractions were not that brisk as the two fillies moved through splits of 31.0 & 1:01.3.

Heading around the final bend Widger had his filly on the move and she was up to fourth, just 3 ¼ lengths behind the pace setting Ali Cat as she hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:31.3.

Through the lane the Martin Brimmer-trained miss found her best stride, roaring home in a brisk 27.3 to blow right by her rivals. Ali Cat hung on gamely for second while Sienna Blue (Homer Hochstetler) shook loose late to finish third.

The nightcap provided a shocking upset as another Martin Brimmer trainee, I’m All Sporty, lit up the tote board with a $60.00 win mutuel as she rolled to a half-length triumph in a brisk 1:58.0.

Employing the same tactics as her barn mate, the homebred daughter of Sportsmaster was reserved in sixth through opening splits of 28.4 & 58.1.

Driver Jason Dillander then positioned the bay miss into a live outer flow as the girls headed around the far turn. Although she was still pacing in sixth, I’m All Sporty was just 4 ½ lengths from the front, as Mokey (Ryan Anderson) led the field by the three-quarter-pole in 1:28.4.

Moving to the far outside of her rivals, I’m All Sporty looked like a filly on a mission as she picked off one rival after another with a 28.1 closing split to get the victory. Roan Rivers (Dave Magee) was a nice second while Mokey held on for third.

Owned by Bart Seales and Angie Nessa, I’m All Sporty had a fourth place finish in DuQuoin prior to shipping up to Crete for Wednesday’s battle.

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