Circuit’s distaff heavyweights will slug it out
May 5, 2004,by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park
Melrose Park, IL — Cinder Best and Loyal Opposition, a pair of hard-knocking mares who have acquitted themselves in superb fashion both on the national and local scene, square off for the first time at Maywood Park as the co-favorites in Wednesday night’s $16,500 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
The ninth race feature was drawn by groups (1-4) and (5-6), with Cinder Best (7-5, Eric Ledford) getting the five post and Loyal Opposition (8-5, Andy Miller) starting outside of her with the six slot.
The two talented mares traded victories the first two times they met at Balmoral Park. Cinder Best proved best with a 1:51 flat (:254) clocking on April 22 when Loyal Opposition was making her 2004 debut after a four and one-half month layoff. Last week (April 29), Loyal Opposition got her neck in front of Cinder Best at the end of a 1:512 mile raced on a “good” surface.
“She did have a couple of very nice mares (Parklane Powerful and Cinder Best) come at her late in the going last week at Balmoral and she really dug in,” said Loyal Opposition’s driver Andy Miller. “That’s where her class comes out in her. And this mare is coming more into herself. She’s the type that takes a couple of starts to really get herself fit.”
Loyal Opposition boasts a gaudy $1.38 million bankroll for her Ancaster, Ontario owner Robert Waxman. The Cole Muffler mare has won four of five career starts at Maywood Park, including a triumph in the Maywood Filly Pace Final in her three-year-old campaign, and a 1:544 clocking in the Violet Final, which is a former world and track record performance for a freshman filly on a half-mile oval.
The seven-year-old mare Cinder Best was a fourth place finisher in last season’s Breeders Crown and has garnished $615,819 for her Ohio owners Thomas Gerdeman and Elaine Lauf. The Cambest mare has thrived on the Chicago circuit since joining the Seldon Ledford Stable, chalking up six Open Pace victories in eight starts, to go along with one second and one third.
Taking on two of the top distaff heavyweights of the Chicago circuit will be (from post one out) Ess Jay Bee B (12-1, Ron Marsh), Monterey (6-1, Mike Oosting), Jessie The Cowgirl (8-1, Dave Magee) and Kennan’s Mama (6-1, Del Chupp). The latter trio all own at least one season’s victory on the Chicago circuit’s half-mile oval.