Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
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UPSETS ABOUND IN WICKED BREW STAKE

Filled With Wonder (#5) rallied in the final strides to pull off the upset at 29-1 in Sunday's first division of the Wicked Brew Stake at Balmoral Park.

Sunday’s $8,000 Wicked Brew Stake splits for Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old pacing colts produced a pair of upset victors as 29-1 outsider Filled With Wonder and 14-1 longshot Fox Valley Mercury lit up the tote board in their respective divisions.

In the opener Filled With Wonder overcame a grueling first over journey for the final five-eighths of a mile as he made his career debut a winning one in 1:56.3 for driver Todd Warren. The Nelson Willis-trained son of Cole Muffler-Broadway Surprise wore down the heavily favored pace setter Little Pauli (Art Gregory Jr) in the closing yards to win by a neck with a blazing 26.3 final quarter. Little Pauli held on for second while Little Gus (Dave Magee) was just a half-length back in third.

Fox Valley Mercury led from start to finish while taking the second division of the Wicked Brew Stake at odds of 14-1.

In the nightcap driver-trainer Homer Hochstetler sent Fox Valley Mercury right to the front and after getting away with pedestrian early splits, the son of Incredible Finale-Miss Bootsy cruised home in 27.3 to record a two-length victory in 1:59.0. Dr. Alfonso (Marcus Miller) rallied to finish second while Winchesters Hero (Mike Rogers) was third.