Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

American National Fields Now Set

November 4, 2006

With five big American National Finals and one Hanover Stake rapidly approaching, the chase for some $750,000 in purse money began on Saturday Night with four eliminations for the big five finals contested. The Two-Year-Old Colt Trotting set was the only group that did not need an elimination.

Kicking things off was the Two-Year-Old Filly Trot. A field of 10 was sent postward for a purse of $22,300 on Saturday night with the top nine finishers getting the chance to join Godiva Hall in the $125,000 (est.) final on next Saturday’s huge card.

Al Libfeld & Marvin Katz’s Sweet Alabama has been quite a well traveled lady in her first season and once again she showed that she can adapt to any surface with a very sharp front stepping win in 1:59.1 on a damp chilly night.

After getting away second, driver Jason Dillander pulled his filly from pocket on the backside and the issue was never in doubt from that point on as the Osvaldo Formie trained miss reported home with a 1¾ length triumph. Flash Lightning (Dan Shetler) sat on the winner’s back the entire to wind up as the bridesmaid while Illinois bred Mogo On The Gogogo (Dave Magee), the favorite in the race, wound up third.

Next on tap were Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies. Once again a field of 10 lined up behind the gate looking for a chance to meet Cabana Fever in next week’s $130,000 (est.) conclusion.

This one turned in to a showcase for the HBH Standardbreds red-hot Sportsfancy as she cruised to her fourth straight victory in 1:53.3.

After getting away a little slower than usual driver Ryan Anderson moved his filly to the outside from fifth as the field headed down the backside. Picking “em” up and layin “em” down the daughter of Sportsmaster smoked right the early leaders.

Maintaining a steady advantage around the far turn and through the lane Sportsfancy appeared to be well within herself as she rolled under the wire with her sixth win in 14 starts this season. Yankee Augusta (Charlie Norris) did a nice job to finish second while Orgami Rose (Sam Widger) gave the home folks another one to cheer for next week with a solid third place finish.

The Two-Year-Old Colt Pace also put a highly regarded Illinois bred youngster in the spotlight as John Butenschoen,, Edward Bardowski, Lorelie Knar and S. Zilli’s The Quiet Mon lived up to his 2-5 backing with a 1¼ victory in a snappy 1:51.3.

Content to bid their time near the back and middle of the pack after leaving from post position eight driver Jason Dillander was very patient with the son of Richess Hanover.

Picking up a nice cover flow just before the half-mile mark Dillander then raced second over all the way to the top of the stretch where he was just 1¼ lengths behind the leader. Uncorking a big closing split of :27 the John Butenschoen trained gelding went right by his rivals to record his fifth win in six career starts.

That victory enables him to get one more crack at World Record Holder Homebed Advantage who has been his nemesis all summer here in the Prairie State. Truey’s Legacy (Pat Berry) uncorked a big rally to finish second in this race while Active Trading (Sam Widger) was third. Next week’s final goes for an estimated $130,000.

Perhaps the most impressive effort of the night came in the Three-Year-Old Filly Trot elimination as Harmony Spring Stable’s Hidden Vigorish used her blazing speed to perfection in a 5¼ length romp.

Confidently handled by Pennsylvania based Brian Zendt this filly was kept out of harms way around the far turn before charging to the front as the field straightened up the backside. Moving with her long powerful strides this Arden Stake winner opened up a 4¼ length lead by the time she turned for home. Still pouring it on her rivals the Perry Smith trained miss was up six at the mid-stretch call before putting it on cruise control as she stopped the clock in 1:54.2.

The win was her 10 in just 12 career starts and she figures to give the filly that received the bye, Workout Doll, all she can handle in next week’s $150,000 (est.) final. Lady Blaze (Dan Shetler Jr.) was second while Illinois champion Victor’s Finesse (Brent Holland) was third.

$22,300 American National Elim
Two-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Balmoral Park: Race Three
Saturday, November 4, 2006
PP Horse                        Driver
8 Sweet Alabama            Jason Dillander
1 Flash Lightning              Dan Shetler
9 Mogo On The Gogogo    DaveMagee
4 Ipanema Oaks               Brent Holland
2 Rhonda T                      DR Ackerman
6 Enchantress K              Pat Berry
5 Enjoy The Music            Clay Simpson
10 Fox Valley Deja           Doug Hamilton
3 Harbour Belle                Ryan Anderson
7 Vacation On A Star        Richard Schrock
:30.3 :59.4 1:30.1 1:59.1
*The first nine finishers join
Godiva Hall in the $126,000 Final

$22,800 American National Elim
Two-Year-Old Filly Pacers
Balmoral Park: Race Four
Saturday, November 4, 2006
PP Horse                     Driver
1 Sportsfancy                Ryan Anderson
7 Yankee Augusta        Charlie Norris
6 Orgami Rose               Sam Widger
1X Colette                     Dean Magee
3 Queen of Royalty        Dave Magee
2 Perdido                      Dale Hiteman
8 Clydes First Cam         Roger Cullipher
4 Merlene                     Dan Shetler
1a Good Morning Gal      H Hochstetler
5 Chocolate Treat         Mike Oosting
:28.3 :56.2 1:25.4 1:53.3
*The first nine finishers join
Cabana Fever in the $130,000 Final

$23,400 American National Elim
Two-Year-Old Colt Pacers
Balmoral Park: Race Six
Saturday, November 4, 2006
PP Horse                      Driver
1A The Quiet Mon          Jason Dillander
7 Trueys Legacy            Pat Berry
6 Actyive Trading           Sam Widger
5 Lead The Stampede    Dan Davidson
1 Saratoga John            Dean Magee
4 The Steelman              Dave Magee
2 Coastal Highway          Brent Holland
2B Booze Cruzin            Ryan Anderson
3C Placeitonluckydan      Pat Curtain
3 Sign Of The Croix        Mike Oosting
:28.1 :56.3 1:24.2 1:51.3
*The first nine finishers join Homebed
Advantage in the $135,000 Final

$27,400 American National Elim
Three-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Balmoral Park: Race Nine
Saturday, November 4, 2006
PP Horse                       Driver
4 Hidden Viggorish           Brian Zendt
1 Lady Blaze                  Dan Shetler
3 Victor's Finesse              Brent Holland
7 Miss Sashi                     Pat Berry
9 Jail House Denise         Ryan Anderson
6 Tori Ann                        Dave Magee
1A Classical Gal               Dale Hiteman
5 Gastine                        Joe Anderson
8 I Like Stephanie            Ray Paver
2 Vantz Boko                   Mike Oosting
28.2 56.3   1:25. 1:54.2
*The first nine finishers join
Workout Doll in the $180,000 Final