by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — As if having this year’s Breeders Crown champion and last week’s American-National winner Yellow Diamond in Friday’s (Nov. 20) $100,000 Cinderella stake at Maywood Park isn’t enough, trainer Tracy Brainard is looking to double her chances of taking home a big payday by also entering Shacked Up into this event for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Uncoupled in the wagering, these ultra-impressive fillies have drawn post positions three and one, respectively.

Balmoral Park photo

American-National champ Yellow Diamond is seeking her second straight Chicago stakes win in the Cinderella.

Fresh off her convincing 5-3/4 length romp in the $185,000 American-National for driver Tim Tetrick last week, Yellow Diamond has been accorded the 7-5 morning line favoritism. The daughter of Western Terror has been nothing short of sensational, racking up a record of 13-3-4 in 21 starts with earnings of $1,263,671 in this her first season of racing.

“She loves the front end and she couldn’t be more of a sweetheart of a filly to drive,” commented Tetrick after the American-National victory. “She’s been up against the best in the country all season long and she hasn’t missed a beat.”

Brainard, who is enjoying the finest season of her training career with more than 230 victories and $9 million in purse money already to her credit, had nothing but praise as well for Yellow Diamond.

“She was unraced at two and was probably the least respected of the fillies we have in our barn coming into this year,” she said. “For her to step right in and do the things she has and to stay this sharp and this tough for the entire year has been very exciting and rewarding for us.”

New Image Media photo

Ontario champion Shacked Up is headed to the Windy City for the Cinderella stake.

While Yellow Diamond was taking home the top honors in Crete last Saturday night her stablemate Shacked Up was wreaking havoc north of the border in the $285,000 Ontario Sire Stake Super Final at Woodbine.

Despite missing three weeks due to an illness the Western Terror filly made it look easy for Luc Ouellette as she cruised to a 1-3/4 length front stepping score in 1:51.3. The victory was the eighth in 17 starts this season for Shacked Up who boasts $784,180 in earnings during her sophomore campaign.

Although she’s quite smitten with all of the fantastic fillies in her barn Brainard is not shy about her feelings for Shacked Up.

“She’s one of my favorite fillies,” Brainard admitted. “She’s not a real big filly; she’s just real real tough. I really like her because she has a lot of spunk to her.”