With six starting spots for next week’s $100,000 Filly Maywood Pace up for grabs, a field of eight Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-olds went postward in a $10,000 elimination battle on Thursday night.
The top six finishers join by Native Hotspur and Honey B Skipalong -- who received byes -- in the final, which will be held on Friday, June 19.
Coming into this battle sporting a perfect three-for-three record this year, L and L DeVisser’s My Heart Was True had no problem keeping her slate unblemished, as she cruised to a two and a half-length victory in 1:54.4.
Well handled by driver Brandon Simpson, the daughter of Cole Muffler--Would I Lie used her inside starting spot perfectly, allowing a fast leaving Smashy Cerise (driven by Todd Warren) to take the field through an opening quarter in :28.2.
Simpson then pulled his filly from the pocket and she quickly paced right to the front, proceeding to lead the ladies through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.4 while staving off a first-over bid from Miss Olivia (Marcus Miller).
After putting away the challenge of that filly, My Heart Was True was never seriously threatened again, as she cruised to her fourth win in as many starts. Shes A Pegase (Josh Sutton) turned a second-over trip into a second-place finish, while Miss Olivia did a nice job of holding on for the show dough.
The Nick Giberson-trained miss now boasts five wins, two seconds and one third in 12 career starts.
Also gaining spots in the final were Honeys Luck, Kiss My Josie and Park Lane Rhythm with fourth through sixth place finishes, respectively.
Eliminations for the Maywood Pace will also be held on next Friday’s card (June 19) with the $100,000 final of that event being contested on Friday, June 26.
(With files from Maywood)