by Mike Paradise, director of publicity, Maywood Park
MELROSE PARK, IL—Michael’s Western made his Maywood Park debut an unforgettable one when he paced the fastest mile ever in the half-mile track’s long 58-year history with a 1:51 flat clocking in Friday night’s $22,000 Free For All Pace.
The record mile came in the 5-year-old gelding’s very first start the Joe Anderson Stable and his new California owners Gordon Eyraud, Gayner Palmer and Errol Murphy, Jr, who bought Michael Western in a private purchase on March 19.
Sent off at 6-1 odds, driver Ryan Anderson settled Michael’s Western ($14.00) into fourth and watched in delight as the two betting favorites, No. 1 Mattygonne A (Dave Magee) and No. 3 JW’s Moe Money (Tony Morgan) duked it out suicide fractions of :27.1 and :27.3 with the former keeping the latter parked throughout the sizzling :54.4 first half.
Ryan made his move with Michael’s Western coming out of the third turn. Anderson then sent the son of Western Hanover three-wide on the backside and the winner zoomed past the tiring leaders, taking a two-length lead by the 1:23.3 three quarter pole.
Michael’s Western still had plenty left for the last quarter, coming home in a quick :27.2 for a seven and one-quarter length triumph in track record time with Anderson’s whip still tucked under his right arm. Abouttolosecontrol came on to claim the runner-up spot, while Roland John N was third, beaten another five and one-quarter lengths.
“I had a pretty good hold on this horse, and was glad to see the big speed duel taking place up front early,” Ryan said. “Down the backside I just gassed him out of there, went three-wide and he opened up on his own. After that I just chirped to him and he was gone—if I knew how fast he was going I would have asked him to go faster, because he definitely could have gone faster than 1:51. Out of all the horses I’ve driven, he’s definitely one of the top five.”
Michael’s Western was scheduled to make his Chicago circuit debut in a March 27 Free For All at Balmoral Park but the horse got sick and had to be scratched. He tuned up for Friday night’s FFA event with a winning 1:55.3 Maywood Park qualifier four nights earlier on Monday, April 5.
Michael’s Western 1:51 Maywood Park record clocking was also a lifetime best for the 5-year-old, who captured the Cleveland Classic champion as a sophomore. The $11,000 winner’s share boosted his career earnings to $253,979.