State-bred pacing colts took center stage on Friday night at Maywood Park as a total of 13 Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-olds battled in a pair of $14,705 Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association Stake splits
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In the first division Kay Willis and Sawgrass Farms' Fox Valley Seth parlayed a perfect pocket sitting journey into a nice payday as he reported home with a one-length decision in a brisk 1:52.3 on a track rated as “good”.
Taking advantage of a slight miscue before the start by the rail sitting Smellthecolornine (Marcus Miller), driver Todd Warren was able to position Fox Valley Seth in the two-hole as Trophy Hunter (Tyler Buter) stormed to the front from the outside starting spot.
Sitting pretty as Trophy Hunter ripped through splits :27 and :5,5 Warren had Fox Valley Seth in the perfect spot while a first-over My Boy Luke (John De Long) moved up to challenge the pacesetter as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:23.3.
With these three starting to pull away from the rest of the field on the final turn, the first-over bid of My Boy Luke began to stall as the field turned for home. Trophy Hunter was also beginning to show the effects of the fast fractions while a fit and fresh Fox Valley Seth patiently waited for room.
Using the passing lane to perfection, Warren maneuvered the son of Incredible Finale-Southwind Silk to the inside and the Nelson Willis trainee responded beautifully as he charged past Trophy Hunter to get the victory. Trophy Hunter held on for second while My Boy Luke was third.
Dispatched at odds of 8-1, Fox Valley Seth won for the second time in 23 starts this season while pushing his career bankroll over the $105,000 mark.
In the second division, Shirley Le Vin’s Park Lane Deputy continued to show that he’s still the one to beat among this set as he made every call a winning one in 1:55.3.
Confidently handled by Dale Hiteman, Park Lane Deputy shot right to the front from the outside post in the field of six and proceeded to march through leisurely splits of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:27.
After turning back a first-over bid from Kappy Krunch (Dave Magee) as the field raced by the three-quarter mile mark, the Homer Hochstetler-trained son of Sportsmaster-Darling Katherine then drew away from his rivals en route to a two-length verdict. The pocket sitting Henry Gram (Josh Sutton) wound up second while Rich N Flashy (Brandon Simpson) was third.
The win was the 14th in 22 starts this season for Park Lane Deputy, who also boasts earnings of more than $210,000 in his second season of action.
(Maywood Park)