Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

MISS VICKIE MAKES HER SOPHOMORE DEBUT A WINNING ONE!

Miss Vickie and driver Brandon Simpson had no trouble overcoming the 10-hole as they cruised to victory in Sunday's $18,270 ISOBA Stake at Balmoral Park.

After putting together an impressive freshman campaign in which she won six of her 10 starts, Kevin Dixon and Robert Taylor’s talented trotter Miss Vickie picked up right where she left off on Sunday night as she trotted to a 2 ¾ length victory in an $18,270 Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Stake at Balmoral Park.

Despite drawing the outside post in the field of 10, this striking chestnut daughter of Valley Victor-Willy Nilly made it look easy as driver Brandon Simpson worked out a perfect second over trip to make her sophomore debut a winning one in 1:57.2.

Kept well off the pace of Tropical Caprice (Dave Magee) as that filly breezed through splits of 28.3, 58.3 and 1:28.4, Simpson worked his way into a live outer flow as the field moved around the final turn.

Sitting in a second over position while trotting along in fourth as the field turned for home, the Robert Taylor-trained miss then exhibited her potent closing kick as she breezed home in 28.0 flat, to make her 2009 debut a winning one. Lane’s Game (J.D. Finn) turned a pocket sitting trip into a second place check while Maple Grove Sarah (Josh Sutton) rallied from far back to finish third.

Last year’s Lady Lincoln Land and Sarah Myers Stake winner was heavily respected at the betting windows despite a five-month layoff, returning just $5.00, $4.00 and $4.00 as she pushed her career earnings up to $129,550.