Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

FILLIES SHINE IN WEDNESDAY’S MISTY MISTY MISTY STAKE

Matt's Wolfey (#4) edged out Merced after a long stretch duel to win the first of two Misty Misty Misty Stake splits in 1:57.4 on Wednesday night at Balmoral.

Freshman pacing fillies grabbed the spotlight on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park as a total of 13 Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-olds met in a pair of $6,000 Misty Misty Misty Stake splits.

In the opening division Robert Phillips and Blackfoot Farms Matt’s Wolfey made amends for a disappointing effort in her career debut, as she posted a hard-fought head decision in 1:57.4.

Sitting fourth as the favored Merced (Todd Warren) led the field through splits of 29.2 & 59.0, driver Dave Magee maneuvered his charge off the pylons as the youngsters moved around the final turn.

Moving swiftly on the outside of horses the daughter of Final Cheers had made her way into second, and was just a length behind the pace setting Merced as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:30.2.

The final quarter-mile then turned into a two-horse sprint to the wire with Merced and Matt’s Wolfey battling neck and neck throughout the entire homestretch. With less than a sixteenth of a mile to go, the Bob Phillips trained Matt’s Wolfey finally put away a stubborn Merced to notch her first career win. Susan Hotspur (Mike Oosting), who had followed the cover of the eventual winner, wound up third, 1 ½ lengths behind the top pair.

Sent off the as the third choice in the wagering Matt’s Wolfey returned $11.60, $4.40 & $2.40.

Honey's Luck and Brent Holland came roaring down the stretch to win her career debut as she captured the second Misty Misty Misty Stake split in 1:59.4.

In the nightcap Jack & Peggy Hood, Mystical Marker Farms and Mike Anderson’s Honey’s Luck unleashed a powerful stretch rally to win her debut by a length in 1:59.4.

Given a patient steer by driver Brent Holland, this $42,000 yearling purchase sat in fifth through the opening three-quarters of a mile as Miss Fantastic (Robert Smolin) strolled along through splits of 32.4, 1:03.1 & 1:31.3.

Despite the easy fractions, the field had swallowed up the pace setter by the sixteenth pole. At that point Honey’s Luck had found her best stride and was moving like a freight train on the far outside of horses. Another Erv Miller trainee, Wild Hog (Marcus Miller), was also looking for a way through from between horses while a first over China Girl (Ryan Anderson) was battling on gamely as well. But neither of those fillies could match strides with Honey’s Luck as she flew home in 26.4 to get the victory. Wild Hog was second while China Girl had to settle for third.

Well backed at the windows after a winning qualifier, this daughter of Richess Hanover returned $4.60, $2.40 & $2.10 to her supporters.