Illinois’ top two-year-old pacers were in action on Friday night as a pair of state-bred stakes events helped bring the curtain down on the 2015 racing season at Maywood Park.
Fillies kicked off the night’s action with a compact field of five lining up behind the gate for the $20,500 Violet Stake.
Fresh off her win in the Filly Orange & Blue on Super Night, division leader Char N Marg had no trouble disposing of this group as she hustled to the front from post three and made every call a winning one in a leisurely 1:58 for driver Casey Leonard.
Taking advantage of a break by Saras Terror (Matt Krueger) as the wings of the gate folded, Leonard sent the daughter of Sportsmaster-Zip Up Your Pans right to the top where she strolled through pedestrian like splits of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.1.
After shrugging off a first over bid from Saras Terror as the field moved around the final bend, the Nelson Willis-trained miss was on cruise control through the lane as she paced under the wire with a one and three-quarter length decision. LKs Nancy Lee (Kyle Wilfong) turned a pocket-sitting journey into a second-place cheque while Saras Terror did well to finish third after the miscue and the first over trip.
The win was the sixth in 12 starts this year for Char N Marg, who returned $2.20 and $2.10 to her legion of backers while upping her career bankroll to $106,541 for Quaid Racing LLC.
A full field of eight freshmen pacing colts were entered for the $23,900 Cardinal Stake and once again the public was right on in this tussle as Nicole Potts’ Royale Rose, the 2-5 favourite in the wagering, went “right down the highway” for driver Matt Krueger posting a three-length triumph in 1:56.2.
Zipped away from post position two by Krueger, the gelded son of Ashlees Big Guy—Caribe Royal sped through the opening quarter in :28.2 before slamming on the brakes while leading the field through an opening half-mile in :59.2.
With pressure coming from a first over Dan D Dune (Mike Oosting), the top two were neck and neck as they raced by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.4.
That’s when the Lyle Scurlock trainee found another gear, quickly leaving his rivals in his wake on the final turn and then drawing away to his eighth win in 11 career starts. JBs Hero (Robert Smolin) shook loose late to rally for the place money while Wondrous Sport (Casey Leonard) finished third.
Bet as though defeat was out of the question, Royale Rose returned $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 while upping his career earnings to $53,879.
A couple of familiar faces toted home the 2015 driving and training awards as Mike Oosting, who is rapidly approaching 6,000 career driving wins, took home the driving title while David Mc Caffrey led the training ranks.
(Maywood Park)