Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

FAVORITES CRUISE IN INCREDIBLE TILLIE STAKE SPLITS

Susan Hotspur teamed up with leading driver Mike Oosting to win the first of two divisions of the Incredible Tillie Stake. Oosting would also capture the second division behind Fox Valley Tyra.

State-bred pacing fillies took center stage on Wednesday night’s program as a total of 16 two-year-olds squared off in a pair of $10,000 divisions of the Incredible Tillie Stake.

In the first division, Cynthia Kay Willis and Richard Beere’s Susan Hotspur grabbed command at the top of the stretch and then held steady in the lane to win by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:58.2.

Given a confident steer by leading driver Mike Oosting, the 4-5 favorite stormed up first over from fifth as the field neared the half-mile mark.

Overtaking the pace-setting longshot Libby’s Girl after splits of 30.3, 1:01.1 & 1:30.3, Susan Hotspur was still fit and fresh as she set sail for home. With only minimal urging from her pilot, the daughter of Ft. Apache Hanover fought off a mid-stretch challenge from the pocket sitting Like Red On A Rose (Brent Holland) to record her first victory in her second career outing for trainer Nelson Willis. Like Red On A Rose was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Just Because I Am (Homer Hochstetler) rallied late to finish third.

In the second division, Mike Schulfer’s good looking filly Fox Valley Tyra posted her second win in as many tries as she reported home with a one-length decision in 1:59.0.

After flying home in 25.2 to win her career debut, this daughter of Sportsmaster was sent off as the overwhelming 2-5 choice of the betting public and she did not disappoint her legion of backers.

Employing the same type of tactics that notched him a win in the opening split, driver Mike Oosting patiently waited in fifth with his charge as Windy City Brandie (Todd Warren) and Matt’s Wolfey (Dave Magee) traded turns on the leads while rolling through tepid splits of 31.0, 1:02.1 & 1:32.1.

Powering around rivals while three wide for most of the final turn, Oosting had Fox Valley Tyra just two lengths behind the leaders as the field headed for the wire. Unleashing another wicked final quarter, this $8,000 yearling purchase looked like a million bucks as she stormed home in 26.2 to keep her record perfect. Matt’s Wolfey held on for second while Cuzurinittowinit was third, 7 ¾ lengths behind the winner.

Live racing continues on Saturday night at Balmoral Park with five big Hanover Stakes sharing top billing on a big 14-race program. With four of the five stakes needing to be split into two divisions, races two through 10 on the card will all be Hanover Stake events. Following all that action will be a $24,000 Free For All which features the likes of Load The Dice, Booze Cruzin, My Boy David, and I Can Only Imagine.

Saturday’s action gets underway at 7:20 pm (central).