Round two action in the Fox Valley Redhot Series shifted to Maywood Park on Wednesday night as a total of 24 pacing fillies squared off in a trio of $6,500 events.
The opening division of the night provided the biggest upset on the card as the Alex Adam owned and trained Not So Slim swooped by the field in the lane to win at odds of 50-1.
Content to sit near the back of the back throughout the early proceedings, driver Tyler Buter then moved the daughter of Ft Apache Hanover three-wide as the field headed for the three-quarter-mile mark.
Picking off horses one by one, Not So Slim circled the field on the final turn and then drew off in the lane to win by a widening three and a half lengths in 1:59.1 over a track that had been pelted with rain throughout the entire day. East Tower (driven by Mike Oosting) provided the live cover for the winner and wound up settling for the bridesmaid role, while Miracle To Me (Dean Magee) was third.
Despite coming off a win in her last start, Not So Slim lit up the board at $102.60, $16.80 & $19.40 while winning for the second time in five starts this year.
The middle division held true to form as Willis Clark’s Haylie Sue, an easy winner in round one of the series and the 3-5 favourite in the race, used the inside post to perfection in an easy wire-to-wire victory.
Pointed right to the top by driver Tyler Buter, the good looking daughter of Givemewhatineed was in complete command from the word go. After fighting off a minor challenge from a first over Dingys Model (Jason Dillander) heading to the three-quarter-mile mark, the Perry Smith-trained miss then drew clear of her rivals in the late stages to win by one and a quarter lengths in 1:59.1. Smiling Angel (Sam Widger), who also posted a round one victory, came on late to finish second, while Pictonian Queen (Mike Oosting) was third.
Heavily backed at the betting windows Haylie Sue returned just $3.40, $2.60 $ 2.20 while running her 2009 record to a perfect three-for-three.
In the final division of the night, Thomas Cave’s Alis Buttercup uncorked an eye catching late move as she rallied in the final strides to win by a neck in 2:02.1 over the sloppy track.
This petite daughter of Cambest took to the tight turns and the sloppy surface on the half-mile oval beautifully storming up three wide from sixth for driver Brandon Simpson as the field circled the final turn.
Sitting fifth as the field turned for home, the Buddy Simpson-trained five-year-old then seemed to find yet another gear as she flew home in :28.3 to nail the victory in the closing yards. Honey B Skipalong (Tyler Buter) followed the winner’s every move while finishing a tough luck second and Cammi Place (Pat Curtin) was third.
The victory was the first in four starts this season for Alis Buttercup who rewarded her backers with mutuels of $9.80, $3.80 & $2.60.
(Maywood)