by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park
Melrose Park, IL — The betting favorites Live Out Loud and Enemy At The Gate won their respective $10,000 elimination races for their June 18 showdown in the $102,000 Maywood Pace Final, but both state bred sophomores had to work hard to get the job done on Friday at Maywood Park.
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Maywood Park Photo
Live Out Loud (number six, Dale Hiteman) eked out a victory in the first Maywood Pace elimination on Friday night over number four He Does It All (Eric Ledford).
Live Out Loud was all out to get up in time as the heavy 3-5 favorite, nailing He Does It All (Eric Ledford) in the final strides to gain a head victory in 1:544 in the first elimination.
Driver Dale Hiteman sent Live Out Loud ($3.20) out from the outside six slot, while Ledford did the same with He Does It All from the four, and Mike Brown pushed both three-year-old pacers by leaving hard with Mr Restrictorplate from next to the pylons.
He Does It All was on top at the :281 first quarter when Live Out Loud came out of the pocket and took command in the second turn. Ledford then came right back and reclaimed the lead with a :282 second panel. After a :293 third-quarter breather, both horses had plenty left for the final quarter with Live Out Loud wearing down the 2-1 second betting choice in the late going. Coldheartedrevenge (Pat Berry) took third, one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner.
Live Out Loud’s trainer and co-owner Dave McCaffrey was very pleased with his horse’s performance.
“Things worked out well for us in here because my horse usually needs the front end to win,” said McCaffrey. “He’s a very high-strung horse and has gotten into the habit of racing this way. The fact that Ledford made the move when he did and my horse was able to sit so comfortably in the hole is really a big deal. I see this as a good omen. You have to be able to win races in a variety of ways, and I’m glad that he’s finally able to relax a little and conserve his energy.
“I think the final is shaping up to be so tough with the caliber of horses in it, that the race could be won or lost in the race office, when the draw takes place,” McCaffrey added.
Also gaining next Friday night’s $102,000 Maywood Pace Final from the first elimination was the fourth place finisher Gar (Brent Holland), who overcame an interference break with a :272 final quarter.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3354-040612myEnemy.jpg)
Maywood Park Photo
Enemy At The Gate (Dave Magee) strides out to a victory in the second $10,000 Maywood Pace elimination on Friday night.
In the second elimination, the 7-10 favorite Enemy At The Gate (Dave Magee) raced parked out from the three-eighths, and outside of the 6-5 second choice ML’s Boy (Tony Morgan) throughout the last half before drawing off late in the lane by one and three-quarter lengths in a snappy 1:523.
“I was very concerned at the half-mile point because I wasn’t sure how my horse would be, first over the rest of the mile against ML’s Boy,” Magee said. “But this horse was very game and just kept grinding it out on his own. I didn’t pull the earplugs until the top of the stretch and he proved again tonight to me that he’s one of the best three-year-olds in the state right now.”
Enemy At The Gate was one of four winning drives for the Green Bay, Wisconsin native.
ML’s Boy was pushed to a quick :27 first quarter by the one horse Sparky’s Fire (Gary Rath). Morgan was able to give the pacesetter an easy :291 second quarter, however ML’s Boy needed a :282 third panel to keep Enemy At The Gate parked. Nevertheless the winner came home in :28 flat, passing ML’s Boy before the latter went off stride in the late going.
ML’s Boy salvaged second, while Hot Bet took third and Sparky’s Fire fourth, all earning start berths in next Friday night’s first “six figure” showdown of the season for Illinois bred pacing colts and geldings. On the same weekend program is the $100,000 Maywood Filly Pace.