$30,000 COOK COUNTY STAKE DRAWS EIGHT STATE BREDS

            The veterans of the Illinois conceived and foaled racing wars will be on display on Friday, July 2^nd as Redbud Stable and Michael McNeely’s Thisbigdogwilfight leads a field of eight older state-bred pacers to the gate for the featured $30,000 Cook County Stake.

            Fresh off a seasonal best of 1:50.3 while taking the Free For All at Balmoral Park the gelded seven-year-old has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite from his inside starting spot. The Jim Eaton trained son of The Big Dog has been virtually unstoppable this season winning seven of nine starts while adding another $40,468 to his account. A warrior throughout his racing career Thisbigdogwilfight boasts 42 lifetime wins and more than $800,000 in earnings.

            James Gorman’s Well To Guru has been one of the few pacers to knock off Thisbigdogwilfight in 2010, a feat he accomplished in the $30,000 Broadway Preview Stake at Balmoral Park on June 19^th.  The six-year-old son of Richess Hanover came roaring down the lane that night to win by three-quarters of a length in a career best of 1:49.3 for driver Casey Leonard.  A model of consistency throughout his career the Terry Leonard trained gelding has been on the board in 52 of 80 lifetime starts while banking over $251,000.

            Rounding out the field for the Cook County Stake are Sports Fanatic, Omaha Survivor, The Quiet Mon, Fort Silky and My Boy Luke.

$7,000 ENZO THE BAKER STAKE ON TAP AS WELL

            Co-featured on Friday’s card are a pair of $7,000 Enzo The Baker stake splits, which have drawn a total of 12 Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old pacers.

            The opening division has been carded as race two on the card and Kay Willis & Sawgrass Farms Filled With Wonder will look to make it two in a row to open his career after winning a division of the Wicked Brew Stake at Balmoral Park on June 20^th. The gelded son of Cole Muffler-Broadway Surprise unleashed a wicked 26.3 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:56.3 in that victory.

            In the nightcap, which goes as the seventh race, the Bruce Pacitti trained Little Pauli will be in search of his third win in four career starts. The speedy son of Park Place-Vocalist opened up his career with victories in divisions of the Jimmy Sunshine and Bingo Johnnie Stakes before dropping a tough photo to Filled With Wonder in the Wicked Brew.