Continuing his eye opening start to the 2014 season, Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Deuce was impressive again, knocking off five other Illinois conceived and foaled sophomore pacing colts by a length in Friday’s $10,000 Gosox Stake at Maywood Park.
The final time was a career best 1:54.2 for the Joel Smith trainee.
Gunned right to the front by regular pilot Casey Leonard, the altered son of Sportsmaster—Dodger Girl breezed through splits of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:25.4 while holding a first over Fox Valley Cupid (Ryan Anderson) at bay for the final five-eighths of a mile.
After turning aside that longshot’s bid, Fox Valley Deuce began to draw clear of his rivals in the lane, sealing the deal with a :28.3 final quarter to score for the fifth time in seven starts this year. Cotton Eyed Joe (Robert Smolin), the only horse to defeat Fox Valley Deuce this season, shook loose late after a ground-saving trip to finish second while Sleazeburgernfries (Kyle Wilfong) finished third.
The 8-5 favourite returned $5.20, $3.00 and $2.10, and now boasts seven wins, two seconds and a third in 22 lifetime starts with earnings of $43,147.
(Maywood Park)