With a total of 13 freshmen pacing colts entered for Friday’s Fox Valley Barzgar Stake at Maywood Park, race secretary Doc Narotsky was forced to split the youngsters into a pair of $6,000 divisions.
Both splits featured heavy favourites and the “chalk” players never had to break a sweat as 1—9 favourite DB captured the opener in 1:55.4 while 6-5 choice Wondrous Sport rolled to victory in 1:56.3 in the nightcap.
Confidently handled as a 1-9 favourite should be, DB was sent right to the front by driver Pat Curtin from post two and the issue was never in doubt as the Herman Wheeler-trained son of Yankee Skyscaper—Hopintosh led a single file field through splits of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.2. With plenty still in reserve, DB sealed the deal with a :28.1 final quarter as he reported home with a three and a quarter length verdict in 1:55.4. Fox Valley Aramon (Todd Warren) followed the winner’s every move but was second best on this night while Eddie Eddie Eddie (Clifton Bell) was a non-threatening third.
DB has two victories and a third in three lifetime starts with earnings of $$5,401 for the partnership of Leroy Hunt and Milton Greer.
The nightcap followed nearly the same script as Casey Leonard gunned Wondrous Spirit to the front, where he proceeded to “steal” pedestrian like splits of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28 then held firm through the stretch to record a two and a quarter length win in a career-best of 1:56.3. Dan D Dune (Mike Oosting) did a nice job of overcoming the outside post in the field of seven to finish in the runner-up role while My Man Red (Tim Curtin) was a distant third.
The victory was the second in three starts for the Gary Rath-trained son of Sportsmaster—Wondrous Grace, who has banked $6,000 for owners Stephen Mc MacKin, Marily Kelly and Lorna Rousch.
(Maywood Park)