by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Booze Cruzin took advantage of Maywood Park’s coveted one slot and went on to post a wire-to-wire victory in Friday night’s (October 12) $220,000 Windy City Pace in 1:51.3, a new stakes record for the 25th edition of the meet’s showcase stake for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Booze Cruzin (Sam Widger) won Friday night’s $220,000 Windy City Pace in 1:51.3, a new stakes record.

The victory was driver Sam Widger’s first in a Windy City Pace and Booze Cruzin became only the third Illinois bred to win the added money event. The 7-5 favorite Home Bed Advantage put in a game three-wide effort to be second, 1-3/4 lengths behind, while Glass Pack, a $30,000 late supplement was a distant third, beaten eight lengths.

Booze Cruzin ($13.00) scooted to a quick :26.3 first quarter. However, Widger was able to slow it down and get to the half-mile marker in :55.1.

“Drawing the rail meant everything to this horse because he’s best on the front end. It was my intention for sure to have him on the front if at all possible,” said Widger. “While :26.3 is fast, by all means, it really doesn’t matter much to this horse if he’s on the front end because he just holds his ground. I was pretty comfortable with the pace.”

Anderson took Home Bed Advantage out in the third turn and the son of Cole Muffler powered his way three-wide from sixth to second at the 1:23.2 three-quarter pole and by that time it was strictly a two-horse race.

“Home Bed Advantage was my concern,” continued Widger. “I thought he looked real strong last week in his first start back after a long layoff. I was a little worried because my horse hadn’t grabbed his bit but once I got after him in the middle of the last turn and called on him, he went on.”

Booze Cruzin was well in hand at the finish and Home Bed Advantage was clearly second best.

Owned by Broekhuis Stables of Holland, Michigan, the Art’s Conquest offspring won for the seventh time in 19 starts for trainer Joe Seekman. The Windy City pace triumph was worth $110,000, propelling Booze Cruzin’s season purse earnings to $250,387.

Another world record for Green Day

Green Day broke his own world record for a 3-year-old gelding trotter on a half-mile track when he drew off to a widening 11 length victory in the first $65,000 Galt Trot division with a 1:55.1 clocking for driver Andy Miller.

Green Day (Andy Miller) broke his own world record in the first division of the Galt Trot with a 1:55.1 clocking.

Green Day ($2.20) sat third through the first half fractions set by Bamboo Yankee of :28 and :57.2, then flushed out the pocket horse Like A Breeze (David Miller) in the third turn. The pair cleared the pacesetter on the backside before Green Day whisked past the new leader at the 1:27 three-quarter marker and continued to open it up.

Like A Breeze finished second best against the overwhelming 1-9 favorite. No Jokin came on for third, beaten 12-1/4 lengths.

“He handled the track real well and I knew once Andy had him out and moving that we were the winner,” said trainer Jim Raymer.

The Illinois bred trotter Before He Cheats was a very impressive 1:57.4 winner in the second Galt division, coming from far back for driver Brandon Simpson and pulling away in the stretch. Heza Challenger (Sam Noble III) was second, almost three lengths behind the winner. The 4-5 favorite New Hampshire Boy was able to get away with slow fractions and held on for third.

Saddled with the outside eight hole, Before He Cheats floated out enough to drop into sixth. Despite fractions of :29 and :59.2, Simpson bided his time and then took the winner three-wide on the backside. He was still there at the 1:28 three-quarters, but coming out of the turn it was clear the son of Valley Victor was going on past and he did for the 14th time in 21 starts for Lexington, Ky. owner Sam Bowie.

Abe Lincoln to Lets Getit Started, Andy Roo

The first $75,000 division of the Abe Lincoln Stake went to the pocket horse Lets Getit Started (Jason Dillander), who came up the open stretch and won in 1:53. Brother Ray rallied for the place spot, 1-1/4 lengths behind, while the front-stepping Littlebitoflife, who did all the work, was third, beaten another quarter of a length.

Littlebitoflife shot out from the outside eight slot and grabbed the lead. After a tough :26.4 first quarter, the Shawn Nessa trainee had to battle the first up Omaha Survivor (Tony Morgan) to a :55.3 half and put him away before the 1:23.4 three-quarter pole, but then got leg weary in the lane.

Lets Getit Started’s win was his third in nine starts for Illinois owners Desylias Racing, William Beck and Carol Rieken. The son of Cole Muffler saw his earnings go from $40,845 to $78,345.

The second split went to Red Barn Stable’s Andy Roo (Ryan Anderson) in a time of 1:54.4.

Driver Andy Miller got Genuwine to the front in good shape and after a :28.2 first panel, Miller was able to back the second quarter down to :29.4. Genuine stepped it up with a :28.2 third quarter, but Anderson had plenty of horse and took the freshman out after the leader in the last turn and zipped past.

The Abe Lincoln win came in only the sixth career start for Andy Roo, trained by Mark Fransen. The son of The Panderosa only had $8,123 on his card before banking the winner’s share of $37,500. Andy Roo, the third choice in the wagering, paid $11.60.

“Before the race Mark (trainer Fransen) told me to be up close early, so that’s what I tried to do,” said Anderson. “That was a big effort for this youngster.”

Sportsfancy is Cinderella champion

Sportsfancy, the queen of the 3-year-old state-bred ranks, also proved to be much the best when she humbled a field of open company sophomores with a 1:52.3 victory in the $75,000 Cinderella, a new stakes record.

Maywood Park photos

Sportsfancy (Ryan Anderson) was much the best in the $75,000 Cinderella, winning in a new stakes record of 1:52.3.

Sportsfancy’s win came in the filly’s first start for her new connections. She was sold privately last week by BHH Standardbreds of Warrenville, Ill. to Larry Baron of Horsham, Pa., who got a quick $37,500 return on his new investment.

The 36-1 longshot Get A Cab (David Miller) fought hard to get to the front before the :27 first quarter marker. She had the lead to the :56.2 half, parking out Vaudeville Margie, while Sportsfancy was right behind her. Anderson waited until after the third turn to power up with a three-wide move. The winner cleared after the 1:24.1 three-quarter time and the race was over.

The winning margin was 4-1/2 lengths over Get A Cab. It was another half-length to the show horse, Kiss Of Heaven.

She’s So Hot easily in the Violet

The $64,600 Violet Stake saw She’s So Hot roll to her tenth first season victory in 13 starts with Dave Magee, taking the ICF stake by 1-1/4 lengths over the pocket pacer Party Paula. Parklane Pocket was third, beaten two lengths.

As expected, Magee sent the 1-5 favorite to the lead and after a soft :57.2 first half, She’s So Hot pretty much had this stake wrapped up. Party Paula made a move on the Rick Schrock trainee in the lane, but Magee gave She’s So Hot a tap and the homebred filly went into another gear and pulled away.