Sophomore pacing fillies were front and centre on Thursday, June 7 at Maywood Park, as a total of 12 Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-olds squared off in a pair of $10,000 Filly Maywood Pace eliminations. The top four finishers will return on Friday, June 15 for the $112,000 final.

In the opening split, Mike Oosting guided the Warren Reck-leased and trained Melodie Hotspur to a neck victory in a career best of 1:55.2.

Sent off as the longest shot on the board at 27-1 from Post 6, the daughter of Ft Apache Hanover sat at the back of the pack as Party Hanover (driven by John DeLong) led the field through splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2.

With the speed beginning to tire, Oosting moved the brown filly three and four wide around the final turn and she responded beautifully, uncorking a 28-second final quarter to pick up her first win in 16 starts this season. Party Hanover held on for second while Hostess Lisa (Todd Warren) was third, just a length back. Kendyl (Kyle Wilfong) also gained a spot in the final with a fourth-place finish.

In the second elimination, driver-trainer Ronnie Gillespie and Fox Valley Hermia took full advantage of their inside starting spot and charged away from the gate. The pair led every step of the way and scored by a neck in 1:55.

(With files from Maywood)