Balmoral Park (9/15/12)
Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414
RICCOLO RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS IN SU MAC LAD STAKE
 |
| Riccolo |
Some time off and a return to the Balmoral Park oval seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for Randi Alendal’s Riccolo as the talented three-year-old trotting colt cruised to a three-length victory in 1:56.4 to win the $110,000 Su Mac Lad Stake.
Patiently handled by driver Marcus Miller, the gelded son of Northern Kid-Touch of Victory trotted along in fourth before being angled to the outside as the field moved into the far turn.
“That was pretty much the trip I was hoping to work out for him,” said Miller. “He was a little more aggressive scoring down then he was when he was here this spring so I didn’t want to go rushing out of there with him and have him run off on me or something like that.”
Swallowing up the pace-setting Vaporstar as the colts hit the top of the stretch Riccolo was on cruise control the rest leaving his rivals in his wake as he rolled to his 10th win in 11 starts this season. Vaporstar (Dave Magee) held on for second while Recollection (Kyle Wilfong) was third.
“He was just so much the best out there tonight,” said Miller in the winner’s circle. “He kind of does what he wants to do and I certainly didn’t have to ask him for much out there tonight. He was pretty much all on his own.”
Back in the barn of conditioner Nelson Willis for this appearance, the veteran conditioner sure seemed happy to have Riccolo back.
“Trond’s (Smedshammer) done a nice job with him out east and this is one heck of a nice trotter,” said Willis. “There are some other races coming up so I’m hoping we’ll get to have him around for a little while longer.”
For more information visit www.balmoralpark.com or call (708) 672-1414.
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.
