Illinois conceived and foaled two-year-old pacers were in action on Friday night at Maywood Park as elimination’s for two of the tracks most prestigious events, the Violet and Cardinal Stakes.
Each event featured a pair of $10,000 preliminaries with the top four in each division moving on. The Violet final will carry a purse of $51,000 while the colts will battle for $55,000 next week.
In the opening Violet Stakes elimination, Chris Choros’s State Street Liz overcame a tough opening half-mile to score by a widening one and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.4 for driver Robert Smolin.
Sent to the top from the outside post in the field of six, the daughter of Final Cheers-Pleasepassthejelly was parked through opening splits of :28.1 and :56.3. After finally clearing to the front, the Robert Phillips-trained miss turned away a challenge from Auniqueaquistion (Mike Oosting) on the far turn and then drew clear for her fourth win in nine career starts. Gentle Janet (Ronnie Gillespie) rallied late to finish second while Butterfly Kisser (Ridge Warren) was third. Auniqueaquistion managed to hold on for fourth.
In the second elimination the Stanley Miller-owned and trained Special Rose pulled off a mild upset as she scored by a neck in 1:56.4 for Brian Carpenter.
Despite being forced to grind it out first over for the final five-eighths of a mile, the homebred daughter of Duneside Perch-Orgami Rose gradually wore down the heavily favoured pacesetting Thank You Doc, gamely getting by in the final strides for her second win in 13 lifetime starts. Thank You Doc (Dean Magee) was a hard fought second while Fox Valley Ruby (Casey Leonard) was third. Mystical Danica finished fourth.
In the first Cardinal Stakes elimination, Sawgrass Farms' Fox Valley Norman took advantage of the inside starting spot to dispose of seven rivals, winning by one and a quarter lengths in 1:56.2 for driver Marcus Miller.
After settling in second through the opening quarter, Miller then sent the gelded son of Yankee Skyscaper-Lake Hills Nan to the front. Cruising along comfortably the rest of the way the issue was never really in doubt as the Perry Smith trainee posted his first career win in 10 tries. Fox Valley Action (Todd Warren) overcame a miscue just after the start to finish second despite being parked the entire mile while Orange & Blue Stake winner Fancy Creek Elusiv (Dave Magee) rallied from far back to finish third. Sage Ruck also gained a spot in the final with a fourth place finish.
In the nightcap, Richard Beere’s Collet Hotspur continued his steady rise to prominence as he scored in from stepping fashion, winning by a half-length in a speedy 1:54.3 for driver John Roberts.
Employing the same tactics as the other elimination winner, Roberts elected to let things settle before pulling from the pocket just after the opening quarter with the Nelson Willis trainee. Charging to the front, the son of Ft Apache Hanover-Lookin Her Best then proceeded to open up a three-length advantage before coasting home in :28.4 to notch his second win in five career starts. Big Brad (Robert Smolin) turned in a solid first over effort to finish second while Bazooka (Todd Warren) was a distant third. The last spot in the rich final went to fourth place finisher Drunk On You.
For the second consecutive night, the 10 cent Pick 6 was not hit meaning that next Thursday’s Pick 6 at Maywood Park will feature a carryover of almost $3,400.
(Maywood Park)