Balmoral Park (10/30/11)
Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414
FOX VALLEY VELVET TROTS TO VIOLET TITLE
 |
| Driver Marcus Miller and Fox Valley Velvet came splashing home with a 1 3/4 length victory in Sunday's $45,100 Violet Stake at Balmoral Park. |
The two-year-old Illinois conceived and foaled filly trotting set was on display Sunday night at Balmoral Park as a field of seven youngsters were sent postward in the $45,100 Violet Stake. Continuing a late season hot streak, Redbud Stable and Jim Eaton’s Fox Valley Velvet had no trouble disposing of her rivals, reporting home with a 1 ¾ length victory in 2:01.0 over a sloppy track.
Given a heady steer by driver Marcus Miller the daughter of Vaporize-Vics Flag flashed good speed from post position three, grabbing control of the action heading into the first turn and leading the field through an opening quarter in 30.2.
Not wanting to become involved in a speed duel and more than content to take a pocket trip, Miller allowed a hard charging Ants Iner Pants (Steve Searle) to take the lead heading down to the half-mile mark in 1:00.0.
Patiently sitting in the pocket around the bend, Fox Valley Velvet was well within herself as Ants Iner Pants was all out to stave off a first-over bid from Lady Lincoln Stake winner Maevey Gravy (Mike Oosting) as those two battled through three-quarters of a mile in 1:30.3.
In the lane Maevey Gravy trotted right by a tiring Ants Iner Pants, quickly opening up a 2 ½ length advantage. That’s when Miller sprang into action, maneuvering Fox Valley Velvet off the pylons and out from behind the tiring Ants Iner Pants. After finding a seam to split, the Jim Eaton-trained miss looked like a seasoned veteran as she kicked it into another gear after finding daylight. Gobbling up ground with her fluid strides, Fox Valley Velvet zipped right by Maevey Gravy to notch her fourth win in 10 starts this season. Maevey Gravy was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Powerful Star (Dale Hiteman) finished third.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, Fox Valley Velvet returned $5.00, $2.80 and $2.20 while running her career record to 4-2-2 in 10 starts with earnings of over $87,000 for her proud connections.
About Balmoral Park: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nation's premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is always free.
