Word Power did all the talking in Friday’s Windy City Pace, coming up the inside lane to capture Maywood Park’s premiere event in 1:51.4 on Friday night.
Scott Zeron steered the three-year-old son of Western Ideal-Lush Limbaugh for trainer Larry Remmen and owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ontario.
Word Power had gotten the lead from the onset of the $176,000 one mile test, but was overtaken by Apprentice Hanover at the :27.2 first quarter. The favourite, Lucan Hanover, then came first over and took the lead in the middle of the second turn and led the field through the :54.3 half and the 1:23.1 three-quarters. He appeared to be a sure winner until the last sixteenth of a mile, when Word Power came surging through on the rail to prevail by a length.
“The race didn’t unfold the way I expected,” said winning driver Scott Zeron. “I got lucky that I was able to get up the passing lane. He’s amazing to leave that fast and then come home that fast. He’s super versatile. It’s really tough in that’s he’s gotten used hard off the gate several times and still has that fortitude to come home that strong.”
Unraced at two, Word Power pushed his career earnings to $375,804 in securing his seventh lifetime victory in 17 trips postward. Lucan Hanover picked up second-place money, while Apprentice Hanover held on for show honours.
Pertty Music used a three-wide move around Maywood’s final turn to win the $73,000 Cinderella Stake for freshman pacing fillies in 1:53.2.
John DeLong piloted the Tom Harmer trained, owned and bred daughter of Jeremes Jet-My Metallica to her fifth win of the season and sixth career victory.
“I got away fourth but didn’t want to be first over against Always About Katey,” said DeLong. “I raced her over here a couple of weeks ago but she bled pretty bad, but she was much better tonight and this is her home turf. She had the nine-hole in the American National and the field was a bit softer this week. She’s a very nice filly. I was a little nervous for a few seconds in the stretch but she’s a professional and got the job done tonight.”
Pertty Music sat in the middle of the field of seven fillies while Always About Katey led the field through fractions of :27.2 and :56. Auniqueaquisition pulled first over with a mild bid but failed to gain ground as the field went by the 1:24.2 three-quarter marker. Pertty Music then stormed to the outside around the final turn and stormed by her rivals, winning by half a length over Always About Katey, with State Street Liz.
The victory pushed Pertty Music’s seasonal earnings to $110,236 and her career earnings to $134,292.
Rossini and driver Peter Wrenn cruised to a 1:55.3 victory in the $110,000 Galt Stake for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
The son of Classic Photo-Beverly Crusher is trained by Jim Raymer for the Harbor Racing Stable, LLC of Houston, Texas, and picked up his tenth race of the season in 22 starts. His seasonal earnings now stand at $213,250 and his career bankroll at $231,843.
“It was a pretty easy task once we got out of the gate,” said winning driver Peter Wrenn. “I was a little concerned up the backside as I thought I might get bottled out, but this horse is really tough and I don’t think he’s gone too many poor races. Jim (trainer Raymer) is a great horse trainer and this horse is very tough and he handles the turns really well and that’s a bonus. This horse just isn’t going to quit.”
Rossini finished half a length in front of Dewycolorintheline, with Pine Credit notching third-place money.
Dewycolorintheline took the early lead to the :28.3 first quarter and to the :58 half, before the hard-trying Lindys Tru Grit pulled first over, challenging the leader at the 1:26.4 three-quarter marker. Creampuff Macdaddy then went three-wide around the final turn, while Rossini went past the tiring Lindys Tru Grit to prevail by half a length.
Archetto Hanover captured the $87,000 Abe Lincoln Stake in 1:55.2 after a brutal stretch duel that necessitated a photo to decide the winner in the one mile test for freshman pacing colts and geldings.
The freshman son of Bettors Delight picked up his maiden victory in his 18th try for driver Lewayne Miller and trainer Erv Miller and pushed his career earnings to $137,076.
“He’s been a real nice horse all along and last week he was sick but tonight he was ready to go,” said the winning driver. “I knew it was a soft bunch other than Odds On Rhodonite and I knew I had enough horse to get by him in the late going. I was very confident in the stretch.”
Total Sin took the early lead to the :28.2 first quarter, before Odds On Rhodonite took over, leading the field to a :56.4 half and to the 1:26 three-quarter marker. Archetto Hanover then challenged on the outside and around the final turn pushed his nose in front and appeared to be an easy winner going into the stretch. However Odds On Rhodonite wouldn’t go away, and Total Sin found another gear and came up the inside lane, but at the wire Archetto Hanover keep his whiskers in front, winning by a head over Total Sin, while Odds On Rhodonite nabbed third.
Archetto Hanover is owned by Paymaq Racing of Illinois, Greg Gillis of Ontario and Louis Willinger of Kentucky.
Fort Silky and driver Casey Leonard went wire-to-wire to capture the $30,000 Lester McKeever Stake in 1:53.3 on Nov. 15 at Maywood Park.
The seven-year-old son of Ft Apache Hanover is trained by Terry Leonard for owners John Prentice and Neve Jan Ikeler of Illinois.
After sweeping through fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.4, Fort Silky held off second-place finisher Uncle Smoothie by three-quarters of a length. Mystical Walter finished third.
Fort Silky added the $15,000 winner’s share to his seasonal bankroll of $237,795.
“This race worked out exactly the way we wanted it to,” Leonard said. “My horse left well as I had him pretty revved up and I was a little surprised nobody left. Going into the last turn my horse felt really good. He doesn’t finish as well here as he does at Balmoral, but he was good enough to get the job done. I love horses that just get it, like he does. Sometimes the fastest horse doesn’t always win the race - sometimes it’s just the horse that keeps on trying.”
Fort Silky scored his fourth consecutive victory and pushed his career earnings to $551,935.
(Maywood Park)