Trainer Mike Schulfer fulfilled every trainer’s dream of getting a horse in a Super Night event. But Mike did one better—he has two fillies in the Grandma Ann—both winners of their respective eliminations. The amazing thing about these three-year-old distaffs is that it wasn’t long ago that both were racing in the claiming ranks.

Canine Candy, a daughter of the Big Dog and Carcaro, a Sportsmaster filly each won their elims in 1:54.2 (Canine Candy with Tim Tetrick) and 1:54.1 (Carcaro with Ryan Anderson). Both fillies have nearly identical owners and both are being driven by two of the youngest drivers on the Windy City circuit.

"Canine Candy had a good shot in her elim," Mike said. "She has been getting sharp lately and I thought she fit well with that group. She’s a nice filly and I’m actually surprised that she’s as good as she is. I just hope she can stay this good for tSaturday."

Mike claimed Canine Candy on August 4 for owners Louis Buttice, James Skvarla and Nancy Magnus, and since that time she’s earned $9,590 for her new connections in only five starts. She has put together a record of 2-2-2 in 21 starts this year with $13,384 in seasonal earnings.
"In her last four starts she’s just been running over horse’s backs and tonight is the first time she was able to get a break and shake loose," Tim Tetrick noted. "She’s really getting sharp at just the right time."

Canine Candy bested rival Art's Fiddle, while Free To Fly (Dale Hiteman) nailed down third. Lexus Gram got up for fourth for Tony Morgan.

Mike’s other charge, Carcano, is owned by Louis and Robert Buttice, Nancy Magnus and Jack Gelman of Illinois and Florida. Mike claimed the brown filly on July 11 and since then she’s earned $13,860 for her new owners.

"This filly is getting better with every start," Ryan Anderson said. "Mike (trainer Schulfer) made a little equipment adjustment and she really stepped up to the plate tonight. She’s a medium-sized filly and you can race her anyway you want."

"This filly was racing in the ICF claimers and we really liked her," Mike said. "My owners just love being part of Super night, so for all of them this is a big thrill to have two fillies in, and in the same race."

"Canine Candy has more raw speedy than Carcano," Mike noted. "Carcano has a small breathing problem, and if everything is working well in that department, than she’s ok. Both fillies are pretty sound otherwise."

Carcano bested Rain Dance Jessica (Shawn Christner) and Nasti Nicki (Del Chupp), while Creative Lass (Andy Miller) finished fourth.

In the third and final division of Grandma Ann hopefuls Undeniably You and driver Dave Magee made their seventh trip to the winner's circle this season for trainer Tom Simmons. The daughter of Art's Conquest paced to a 1:52 clocking ahead of Kan Wheel (Tim Tetrick) and Aries Conquest (Andy Miller), while Venturi Effect (Sam Widger) got up for fourth.

$200,000 Grandma Ann Pace (Race Six)
Post--Horse                 Driver
1. Free To Fly                 Hiteman 
3. Aries Conquest           Miller 
4. Rain Dance Jessica     Christner 
2. Carcano                    Anderson 
5. Venturi Effect             Widger 
6. Kan Wheel                 Tetrick 
7. Art's Fiddle                 Magee 
8. Nasti Nicki                  Chupp 
1A. Undeniably You         Magee 
2B. Canine Candy           Tetrick

Kim's Top Three Picks (Carcano, Aries Conquest, Undeniably You)




$200,000 Pete Langley Memorial
Fox Valley Jammin captured the first of three Pete Langley Memorial elims, stopping the timer in 1:52 with Andy Miller at the lines for trainer/brother Erv Miller.

"I really didn’t want those fractions and I kind of had to chase him to keep him up on the bit," Andy said. "Everything worked out well for us in here in the end, though." 

"He was immature at two and wouldn’t sound up, so that’s why we raced him lightly at two," Erv explained. "This year at three we found out he had some back ankle troubles, so we took him the University of Illinois where they were able to help his problems. We took him to some county fairs and he was able to get brave there. He’s really started to come around at the right time."

Fox Valley Jammin bested rival Walter Pay A Ton (Eric Ledford) and Wolf Creek Willie (Dave Magee), while Fox Valley Jeeves (Mike Oosting) was fourth.

Ryan Anderson piloted Gar to a 1:51.4 clocking in the second elim for trainer Roger Welch. This three-year-old son of the Big Dog easily bested rivals Prince Vince (Mike Oosting) and Live Out Loud (Dale Hiteman) to nail down his fourth win in 20 starts this season. Big Underdog was fourth for Dave Magee.

"This horse is really fresh right now and came a very fast last quarter (:25.3) in his last start at Hawthorne when I drove him and he just got beat by a head there," Ryan said. "Tonight I never asked him to pace at all—he did it all on his own. His dam (One Cadet) was the first horse that I ever won a race with, so this is kind of special for me to be driving him."

Fox Valley Gallant, a son of Sportsmaster paced to a 1:50.1 lifetime best in the third Langley elim. Crazy Art was second for Pat Berry, while Ron Marsh steered Fox Valley Assault to third and Ryan Anderson got Incredible Journey up for fourth.

"This was a great effort from this colt—he’s chased Enemy At The Gate all year long and really deserves this win," Eric said. "He really likes to race first up. The race really went the way I had hoped it would—I wanted to be one-two with Dave (Magee driving Enemy At The Gate), and it worked out really perfect for us."