In for a claiming tag of $20,000 Fox Valley Roper was one of four pacers in for that price while then others in the event were non-winners of $800 per start.

After stating from the pole position Dobson got away with a relatively easy opening quarter racing unchallenged by the first stanza ib :29. But after that challenges came from Thee Town Hero (Jimmy Taggart, Jr.) and from Tricky Grin and Jordan Stratton.

With Fox Valley Roper and Three Town Hero going head to head up the backstretch Stratton moved Tricky Grin three-deep and got around Taggart's pacer on the final turn but in the lane they Fox Valley Roper proved too much and went on the a 1-1/2 length victory over Tricky Grin. Thee Town Heron hung on for third money.

It was the fifth victory in of the season for Fox Valley Roper who is owned by Christa Claridge of Wrightstown, NJ.

In other news Jordan Stratton won three more races that afternoon giving his a total of 185 here at the Mighty M and 449 for the season which ranks him 9th in North America and his purse total of $6,015,912 is 16th best and a new record for the 22-year-old reinsmanwwho began ghis career here at the Mighty M.

John MANZI