Balmoral Park

Contact: Tom Kelley
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SOUTHERN MAEBELLE TAKES ISOBA STAKE

Southern Maebelle and driver Brian Carpenter turned a perfect ground-saving trip into a one-length victory in Sunday's $15,470 ISOBA Stake at Balmoral Park.

A field of nine sophomore trotting fillies was sent postward in Sunday night’s featured $15,470 Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Stake Association at Balmoral Park. Once again showing the late season dominance she exhibited during her freshman campaign, Powers Farm's Southern Maebelle dispatched her eight rivals in handy fashion as she cruised to a one-length victory in a career best of 1:55.4 for driver Brian Carpenter.

Using post position one to his full advantage, Carpenter managed to save ground the entire way as Fox Valley Click (Dale Hiteman) led the field through splits of 28.2, 57.4 and 1:26.4.

Patiently waiting for room in the late going, Carpenter then found the opening he needed and the Gerald Hansen-trained daughter of High Falls-Summer In The City trotted home powerfully as she sealed the deal with a 28.3 final quarter.

Fox Valley Click held on for second while St. Louis Holiday (Art Gregory Jr.) rallied to finish third.

After hitting the board in 11 of 12 starts last year Southern Maebelle has come on strong over the past two months here at Balmoral, taking the Lady Ann Reed on Super Night and then Sunday’s ISOBA Stake to give her a record of four wins, two seconds and two thirds in 14 starts. Her career bankroll now stands at $206,254.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite as part of an entry, Southern Maebelle returned $4.60, $3.00 and $2.10.