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OOSTING GETS 3,000TH CAREER WIN; NO SURPRISES IN AM-NAT ELIMS

Mike Oosting

After posting four wins on Friday night’s Maywood Park card to draw within one victory of the coveted 3,000 career win plateau, driver Mike Oosting wasted no time reaching that milestone as he led off the Saturday night Balmoral Park program with a dead-heat victory behind Demack’s Quick.

The 45-year-old Beecher, Illinois resident was a bit surprised to find himself in the winner’s circle after enduring a traffic-filled trip in the opener. “At the half-mile mark I wouldn’t have given you much for my chances,” said a happy Oosting. “We were stuck behind poor cover and forced to swing as wide you possibly could all the way around that final turn.”

Thanks to some deft handling, Oosting still managed to get the leg weary five-year-old to the wire on even terms with a hard-charging Escapewitoutatrace (Dean Magee) in 1:55.1.

Mike Oosting is joined in the Balmoral Park winner's circle by his peers after capturing his 3,000th career victory on Saturday night.

Currently sitting atop the Balmoral Park driver standings with more than 260 wins at the Crete oval this year, Oosting is enjoying another huge season on the tough Chicago circuit. Since making the move from his former home base in Fremont, Michigan to race on the Chicago ovals full time in 2002, Oosting has averaged almost 400 victories a year.

“I figured I'd do OK when I got here since I knew I’d be driving for leading trainer Ken Rucker,” explained Oosting. “But I never dreamed we would be able to put up the numbers we have over the past few years.”

When asked if he felt any pressure as he neared the 3,000 win milestone, the always cool and collected Oosting answered as expected. “I really didn’t know where I stood in regards to the number until I heard them announce it tonight so I never really had time to think about it,” grinned Oosting.

Oosting is also zeroing in on another milestone with career purse earnings of almost $20,000,000.

Sand Shooter teamed up with driver Todd Warren for a wire to wire score in the first of two American National Stake Elimination's on Saturday night at Balmoral Park.

The countdown to Balmoral Park’s big American National Festival of racing began in earnest on Saturday night with a pair of $19,300 elimination events for two-year-old pacing colts. The top five finishers in each division will return next Saturday to battle for a $146,000 jackpot as Balmoral Park presents six prestigious American National Stake Finals.

In the opener Bill Sander’s Sand Shooter made it look easy as he cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in 1:53.0.

Zipped away from post position four by driver Todd Warren, the son of Western Hanover was uncontested as he rolled through splits of 27.1, 55.0 & 1:24.1. The Jim Arledge Jr.-trained colt then held off the big late rally of Art Official (Del Chupp) to win by three-quarters of a length. Littlebitoflife (Ryan Anderson) finished 3 ¾ lengths back in third. Brother Ray (Brent Holland) and Life Savior (Mike Oosting) also gained spots in the final with their fourth and fifth place finishes respectively.

Mucho Sleazy avenged his defeat to Lets Getit Started in the Cardinal Stake Final with this three-quarter-length triumph in Saturday's American National Stake eliminations.

In the nightcap Engel Stables Mucho Sleazy put Mike Oosting back in the spotlight as he guided the state-bred gelding to an impressive come from behind score in a blistering 1:51.2.

Content to spy the action from mid-pack while Lets Getit Started (Jason Dillander) and Corner Blitz (Dave Magee) battled through wicked opening splits of 27.3, 54.2 & 1:22.3, Oosting was able to work out a perfect second over journey. Tipping off his cover with an eighth of a mile to go, the Ken Rucker trainee was in full stride as he blew by Lets Getit Started to win by three-quarters of a length. Lets Getit Started survived an inquiry to get the runner-up check while the highly regarded Genuwine (Brent Holland) finished third. Little Pedro (Sam Widger) and Vette Man (Brandon Simpson) also earned starting spots in the final with their fourth and fifth place finishes.

Live racing continues on Sunday night with a big 12-race card on tap. Freshman trotters will share the headlines on Sunday as a field of four two-year-old fillies battle in a $55,000 Hanover Stake (non-wagering) and seven of their male counterparts slug it out for $70,000 in another Hanover Stake (race six). Post time for the non-wagering event is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (central). The regular 12-race program will begin at 6:30 p.m. (central).