by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — The first 2-year-old stake of the 2013 season at Maywood Park was contested on Thursday night (June 27) and it provided plenty of fireworks as Mike Brink and Ed Teefey’s April May Dune staged a big rally to pull off the upset in the $12,000 Juxtaposition Stake.

Maywood Park photo

April May Dune pulled off the upset over eight other 2-year-old pacing fillies in Thursday’s $12,000 Juxtaposition Stake at Maywood Park.

Placed in mid-pack while the overwhelming 1-9 favorite, Linda On My Mind (Mike Oosting), carved out splits of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.4, driver Brian Carpenter moved April May Dune first over as the field rolled under the finish wire for the first time.

Drawing to within a head of the pacesetter as the state-bred fillies raced by the three-quarter-mile mark, the daughter of Duneside Perch-April Ruffles continued her assault on the leader as the field raced around the final turn.

Fit and fresh despite being outside for nearly five-eighths of a mile, the Mike Brink trained miss overpowered the heavy favorite and steadily drew away from her rivals through the lane to make her career debut a winning one, reporting home with a 3-1/4 length verdict in 1:58. Perfectly Clear (Kyle Wilfong), a 47-1 outsider, rallied nicely to be the bridesmaid while Linda On My Mind held on for the show dough.

April May Dune returned $28.80, $12.40 and $4.20.