by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Sophomore pacing fillies will take center stage on Thursday night (April 23) at Maywood Park as a full field of 10 Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-olds will do battle in the $20,000 Desperate Lady Stake which goes as race eight on the 11-race program.

Trainer Nelson Willis and owners Cynthia Willis and Richard Beere will send out a pair of fillies for this race in Susan Hotspur and Native Hotspur and this coupling is the 3-1 morning line favorite in this test.

The former was sixth in the Direct Balance Stake at Balmoral last week but that was her first start of the season and she figures to be much sharper with that tightener under her belt. That latter was an impressive winner in that stake as she cruised to the top and made every call a winning one in a snappy 1:53.1. A four-time winner last season this daughter of Ft Apache Hanover now has career earnings in excess of $65,000.

Engel and Rucker Stable’s Cane’s Z Tam will be making her first start of the season after a pair of qualifying tune-ups at Balmoral Park. The good looking daughter of Cole Muffler put together an impressive 2-year-old campaign winning eight of 11 starts while earning almost $40,000. The Paul Stafford trainee is no stranger to the half-mile oval at Maywood with one of her wins coming in a Violet Stake elimination last season.

Harry Von Knoblauch’s China Gal is the fastest filly in the field by virtue of her 1:52.4 clocking at Balmoral as a 2-year-old and judging by her victory in an April 17 qualifier at Hoosier Park this daughter of Sportsmaster appears to be all ready to embark on her sophomore season. Last year’s Orange & Blue Consolation winner had three wins, two seconds and two thirds in 2008 while earning almost $29,000 in the process.

Rounding out the field for Thursday’s Desperate Lady Stake are Polly-Graph, Park Lane Rhythm, Honey B Skipalong, Shescominonstrong, Kennans Ellery and Perky B Skipalong.