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MAYWOOD
PARK Contact:
Tom Kelley Friday, Oct. 5th,
2012 STATE-BRED
YOUNGSTERS STAR IN FRIDAY STAKES A
pair of Illinois conceived and foaled stakes, each with jackpots in excess of
$50,000 shared top billing on Friday night’s Maywood program as a field of
eight two-year-old colt pacers squared off in the $55,000 Cardinal Stake while
their female counterparts slugged it out in the $51,000 Violet Stake. Making
amends for a heartbreaking loss in the Orange & Blue on Super Night,
William C. & William P. De Long’s Fox Valley Action scored in front
stepping fashion as he reported home with a 1 ˝-length decision in a snappy
1:54.4. Confidently
handled by driver Todd Warren the gelded son of Sportsmaster-Anything You Ask
used a power sweep from fourth to first on the backside to grab control from
Bazooka (Mike Oosting) as the field moved by an opening quarter in 28.3. In
control of the proceedings Fox Valley Action continued to show the way through
middle splits of 56.3 & 1:24.2 while battling a persistent Collet Hotspur
(John Roberts) the entire way. Despite
Collet Hotspur managing to stick a neck in front Warren never panicked and Fox
Valley Action responded beautifully regaining control as the field reached the
top of the lane. The Roger Welch trainee then began to draw away from his
rivals pacing home gamely to notch his fifth win of the season. Collet Hotspur
survived an inquiry to hold on to the place honors while Big Brad (Robert
Smolin) overcame a traffic filled trip to finish third. With
the victory Fox Valley Action now boasts a freshman record of 5-5-1in 11 starts
with earnings of $165,788. Sent
off as the 4-5 favorite Fox Valley Action returned $3.80, $2.40 & $2.10. In
the $51,000 Violet Chris Choros’ State State Liz pulled off the mild upset as
she scored by a hard fought head in 1:58.1 despite having some equipment issues
due to a headpole that came loose just after the start. Zipped
away from post position seven by driver Robert Smolin the daughter of Final
Cheers-Pleasepassthejelly easily crossed over to the front before the field
reached the first turn. Tapping the brakes a bit after grabbing command Smolin
was able to get away with splits of 29.3 & 1:00.0 before Thank You Doc
(Dean Magee) came calling as the field headed for the half-mile mark. Continuing
to battle as the field moved down the backstretch State Street Liz maintained a
slight advantage over Thank You Doc while Auniqueaquistion (Mike Oosting) spied
all the action from a perfect pocket seat as the fillies moved by the
three-quarter-mile mark in 1:29.0. After
putting away Thank You Doc a game State Street Liz then managed to hold off one
final bid in the passing lane from Auniqueaquistion to notch her fifth win this
season. Auniqueaquistion was a hard luck second while Thank You Doc was forced
to settle for third. The
Bob Phillips trained miss now sports five wins and four seconds in 10 starts
with earnings of $56,625. Despite winning an
elimination for this stake last week State Street Liz returned a healthy
$15.80, $5.80 & $3.60.
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