Fairmount track report

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - The featured attraction of Tuesday's Illinois Day, the Pete Condellone Handicap, lost much of its luster when the top two finishers from last year's running, Baker Road and Moe B Dick, were scratched, reducing the field to four and prompting management to cancel both trifecta and show wagering on the race.

This left a virtual match race between 8-year-old Tic N Tin, horse of the meet here in 2000-01 but whose form had not quite been up to par this season, and Bulldog George, who as a 3-year-old last year was named the meet's top horse.

Jockey Gary Kurek sent Tic N Tin to a comfortable lead through a half in 47.60 seconds while Eusebio Razo Jr. stalked in third position on Bulldog George. Nearing the far turn, Razo sent his mount to challenge. Tic N Tin fought back gamely but nearing the sixteenth pole it was evident that Bulldog George had his measure, and he went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Bulldog George was timed for the two-turn mile in 1:38.80 and paid $3.40 while cementing his second horse of the meet title for trainer Jimmy Wiser.

In the other five $35,000-added stakes on Illinois day:

* Lady Riss ($8.40) provided a special moment for owner-breeder Dana Waier, who was celebrating her 25th anniversary with her husband, Melvin, by winning the All Sold Out Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

* While heavily favored Chicago invaders dominated last year's Illinois Day program, locally trained horses had their way this time, winning five of the six stakes. Trainer Steve Manley had sent Matthew's Blessing to Arlington for his first two career races and he had shown good early foot before tiring in both. Racing at home for the first time, Matthew's Blessing ($20) kept right on going in the stretch and upset the Marluel's Troy Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

* She's Fantastic ($14) scored in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the Slight in the Rear Stakes. The 4-5 favorite, Chicagoan Cashmere Miss, raced between horses early before weakening to finish third.

* In the one-mile Bungalow Handicap, only Slick's Lil Sister ($10.40) had serious stayer credentials, and she was the only one left running in the stretch, drawing off to win by more than seven lengths.

* It wasn't until the last race of the day, the Tex's Zing Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings, that a Chicago shipper finally won when Shandy ($5.20) destroyed a field of 10 by nearly nine lengths under Carlos Silva.