Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414

“BOMBS AWAY” IN DIRECT DOTTIE STAKE

Fox Valley Smooch and Robert Smolin staged a huge rally to pull off the upset at 65-1 in Sunday's Direct Dottie Stake at Balmoral Park.

It was a longshot lovers delight in Sunday’s $12,000 Direct Dottie Stake at Balmoral Park as 65-1 outsider Fox Valley Smooch rallied from eighth to first in the final quarter-mile to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a career best of 1:53.2.

After appearing to be hopelessly out of it as Merced (Travis Seekman) and She’s A Pegase (Tyler Buter) battled it out up front through wicked splits of 27.1, 54.1 and 1:23.3, Fox Valley Smooch took advantage of the fast fractions, circling rivals as the field turned for home.

Uncorking a 28.3 final quarter for driver Robert Smolin while the rest of the leg weary field staggered home, the daughter of Richess Hanover-Fox Valley Passion picked off one filly after another as she flew home for her second victory of the season. Matt’s Wolfey (Dave Magee) shook loose late after getting trapped on the pylons to finish second, while Rich’s Emily Grace (Dean Magee), who provided live cover for the winner, finished third.

Sunday’s victory was the third lifetime win in 22 starts for the Mike Schulfer-trained miss who now has almost $30,000 in career earnings for the partnership of Strzalka, Skvarla, Magnus and Schulfer.

Dispatched as the second longest shot on the board, Fox Valley Smooch returned $133.00, $36.80 and $12.40. Combined with double-digit priced horses behind her, the winning exacta combination of 8-1 returned a whopping $916.40 while the trifecta combination of 8-1-7 returned $7,223.00. The 10 cent Superfecta of 8-1-7-3 was worth a healthy $1,482.98 for just a shiny dime!