Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
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CARDINAL ELIM’S SPOTLIGHT SOPHOMORE CLASS

Park Lane Deputy and driver Dale Hiteman won for the sixth time in seven starts as they captured the first of three Cardinal Stake eliminations in 1:52.0 on Saturday night.

The stakes action rolled on at Balmoral Park on Saturday night as a total of 21 Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing colts squared off in a trio of Cardinal Stake eliminations. The top three finishers in each of these $7,500 events along with one fourth place finisher (drawn by lot) will return for next Saturday’s $56,700 final.

In the first division Shirley LeVin’s Park Lane Deputy continued his impressive start to the 2009 season as he recorded a half-length victory in 1:52.0 for driver Dale Hiteman.

The son of Sportsmaster-Darling Katherine scooted to front after watching My Boy Luke (Josh Sutton) roll through an opening quarter in 28.0.

The issue was never in doubt from that point on as the Homer Hochstetler trained colt put up splits of 56.2 and 1:25.2 before sealing the deal with a wicked 26.3 final quarter. My Boy Luke held on for second while Jamboree (Sam Widger) was third and Fox Valley Seth (Brandon Simpson) was fourth.

The win was the sixth in seven starts this year for Park Lane Deputy who returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.

Henry Gram and driver Todd Warren teamed up to take the middle split of Saturday's Cardinal eliminations with a career best of 1:51.0.

In the middle split Shelly Graham’s Henry Gram finally got things turned around as he strolled home with an eye-catching five-length triumph in a career best of 1:51.0.

Despite not hitting the board in his first five starts this year, driver Todd Warren put this homebred son of Henry Clay-Lexie Gram on the front end after Filthy Rich (Lavern Hostetler) put up an opening quarter of 28.2.

Blowing right by the pace setter on the backside, Henry Gram continued to increase the leading margin at every call as he clicked off splits of 56.1 and 1:24.3 before capping it off with a 26.2 final quarter while on cruise control. Grandma Jan’s Max (Marcus Miller) rallied to be second while Filthy Rich held on for third. Fox Valley Azure (Mike Oosting) was fourth.

After a seven-win season in 2008 Henry Gram opened his sophomore account by returning $10.60, $5.40 and $3.80.

Sandbar Slugger (between horses) held off a late rush by Smellthecolornine to win the third Cardinal Stake elimination.

The final elimination also produced a minor upset as Kim & Michael Neal’s Sandbar Slugger rallied in the final strides to win by a head in a career best of 1:53.0.

Kept well off the early pace as favored Fox Valley Slammer (Mike Oosting) and Rich N Flashy (Dave Magee) battled through splits of 26.3. 56.3 and 1:25.2, driver Brandon Simpson managed to work out a perfect second over journey for the son of Sportsmaster-Rembrandt Arlene.

Perched nicely in fourth as the field turned for home, Sandbar Slugger began to pick off the pace setters as the field moved through the lane, flying home in 26.4 to win in a thriller. Smellthecolornine (Marcus Miller) shook loose late and wound up just missing in a big effort while Sponzo Brotka (Josh Sutton) was third. Timewell (Todd Warren) was fourth.

The victory was just the third in 28 lifetime starts for the Homer Hochstetler trainee who returned $12.20, $4.40 and $3.20.

The Saturday night Free For All produced the fastest mile of the year here at Balmoral Park as Andrea Hill’s Jeremy’s Successor won for the second straight week, this time stopping the clock in a lifetime best of 1:49.0.

Given a confident steer after starting from the inside spot in the field of six driver, Tyler Buter ripped through splits of 27.2, 55.1 and 1:22.3, then kept his rivals at bay with a 26.2 final quarter to get the job done. Special Joe (Josh Sutton) was second while Well To Do Guru (Casey Leonard) was third.

The win was the fourth in eight starts for the five-year-old Dean Eckley trained gelding who now boasts over $110,000 in career earnings.