MAYWOOD PARK

Contact:  Tom Kelley                                                     Thursday, Oct. 15^th, 2009

tkelleyatbal@aol.com

MISS OLIVIA & MATT’S WOLFEY TAKE ISOBA SPLITS

 

          Illinois conceived and foaled pacing fillies took center stage on Thursday night at Maywood Park as a total of 12 sophomores battled in a pair of $14,555 ISOBA Stake splits.

          In the opener Ron Michelon’s Miss Olivia, the even-money favorite in the race, prevailed by a hard fought head in 1:57.4 over a sloppy track.

          After getting away fourth a confident Marcus Miller moved first over with Miss Olivia as the field headed for the half-mile mark.

          Battling neck and neck with the pace setting China Gal (Sam Widger) as the field moved down the backstretch Miss Olivia was able poke a head in front as the field headed into the final turn.

          After finally putting away China Gal as the field turned for home Miss Olivia quickly opened up a length advantage. The Erv Miller trained daughter of Cole Muffler then managed to hold off a big late bid from Fox Valley Absolut (Robert Smolin) who shook loose at the top of the stretch. China Gal held on for third.

          The win was the fourth in 18 starts for Miss Olivia who now has $43,954 in earnings this season.

          The nightcap provided an upset as Robert Phillips and Blackfoot Farms Matt’s Wolfey, the second longest price in the race at 11-1, blew right by her rivals in the lane to win by four lengths in 1:57.3.

          Sitting last while Toni Mack (Todd Warren) rolled through splits of 28.2 and 58.1 driver John Delong moved Matt’s Wolfey into the outer flow as the field headed by the finish wire for the first time.

          Following the live cover of the even-money favorite Annie Your Cool (Brandon Simpson) as the field moved down the backstretch Delong had Matt’s Wolfey perfectly positioned second over in third as the field hit the three-quarter mile mark in 1:28.1.

          Moving with a full head of steam the daughter of Final Cheers went right by the heavy favorite as the field reached the top of the turn and the issue was never in doubt from there as Matt’s Wolfey drew away for an easy victory. Annie Your Cool was second while Wolf Creek Vixen (Tyler Buter) was third.

          The win was the third in 23 starts for the Bob Phillips trained miss who now boasts career earnings of $61,275.