The Mike Brink stable’s Fox Valley Julian (Casey Leonard) shows his winning stride in a division of last weekend’s ISFCS track record performance. (Four Footed Fotos)

By Mike Paradise

 Last weekend’s Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes lengthy card at Hawthorne produced some impressive victories by young state-bred pacers and trotters and maybe the most notable was a track record performance by the freshman Fox Valley Julian.

 One of three Mike Brink trained winners on the program, Fox Valley Julian 1:52.1 mile with Casey Leonard at his lines was a Hawthorne track record for a two-year-old male pacer and the Somestarsomewhere gelding did it with a sizzling 26 flat quarter.

 Both Brink and Leonard believe there’s more in the tank once Fox Valley Julian becomes more controllable and learns to be a racehorse for his Steeleville, Illinois owner James Hepp.

 Fox Valley Julian got the attention of a lot of Prairie state fans when he romped by almost 10 lengths in 1:55 flat, in mid-August, just his second lifetime start. It was the first time Casey drove the youngster.

 Nevertheless, the freshman’s next outing in a division of the Director’s Cup was a disappointment. Fox Valley Julian did well to be a non-threatening third after racing eleventh and last at the half, about a dozen lengths behind the heavy winning favorite Guitar Man who paced a 1:51.3 mile.

 “He just wasn’t manageable that day,” said Casey. ”I don’t know if he was distracted or what. He was just a handful to drive. However last Sunday he was much better. Mike did some rigging changes with him. Give him the credit for the horse’s strong performance.”

  Fox Valley Julian’s dam is the Jate Lobell broodmare Theladyappealstome, a name that may be familiar to those who follow the Illinois circuit. Her second foal was Fox Valley Topaz, the only Illinois-bred Breeders Crown champion, winning the 2007 filly pacing final as a two-year-old.

  The Fox Valley Standardbred broodmare also delivered Foz Valley Appeal (1:50 flat), Fox Valley Escort (1:53.4), and Maximus (1:50.4) to the Illinois racing circuit..

  Fox Valley Julian will get back to work Sunday evening in the third race for ICF two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He’ll leave from post six with Casey in a seven-horse field.

 “I put him in to get more racing experience,” said Brink. “He’s only had four starts and next week is a leg of Hawthorne’s Super Night series.”

  F & M Open Headliner: The first $11,100 Open Pace for fillies and mares is the Sunday night feature. The six-horse field was drawn by groups with the Indiana invader She’s Magical from the barn of former Chicago circuit leading trainer Perry Smith likely post time favorite.

 The four-year-old Rockin Image mare was third best in last weekend’s $22,000 Hoosier Park Open, pacing in 1:52.3 with a 26.1 last panel. She’s Magical is already a 10-time winner this season and has earned over $130,000 for Perry, who also owns the mare.

  Lining up to challenge She’s Magical are five Illinois bred or owned mares: Fox Valley Kia (Phil Know), Dandy’s MNM (Richard S Finn), Apple Valley (Kevin Lambright), Fox Valley Exploit (Kyle Husted) and Tell The Dream (Cordarius Stewart).

 The Amy Husted stable’s Fox Valley Exploit is the defending ICF aged mare champion with over $466,592 while the Robert Taylor trained Apple Valley took the state’s three-year-old distaff pacing honor and has won I 1:50 flat this year.