Trotters took centre stage on Thursday, October 27 at Maywood Park, as a field of seven three-year-old colts and geldings slugged it out in the $14,200 Lifes A Holiday Stakes.
Taking advantage of his speed and inside draw, Fox Valley Standardbreds and Jim Edgar’s Fox Valley Iliad grabbed command from the word 'go' and proceeded to make every call a winning one. He reported home with a two and a half-length victory in 1:57.4.
Handled by trainer Homer Hochstetler, the son of Vaporize--Memory Maker zipped away from Post 3 and managed to put a hard-leaving Itzaziam (driven by Marcus Miller) into the pocket as the two trotters cruised by an opening quarter in :29.3.
Under no pressure whatsoever through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:29.1, Fox Valley Iliad was in complete command of the proceedings.
Heading around the final turn, a fit and fresh Fox Valley Iliad continued to show the way with Itzaziam sitting right on his back. Rapidly putting distance between themselves and the rest of the field, the issue was never in doubt from that point on, as Fox Valley Iliad sealed the deal with a :28.3 final quarter to post his fourth win of the season. Itzaziam was a clear-cut second while Itz Alive (Mike Oosting) finished more than 10 lengths back in third.
Sent off as the post-time favourite, Fox Valley Iliad returned $4.40, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board while posting his sixth career victory.
(Maywood)