by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — A bargain basement buy for $2,300 as a yearling, Ronald Phillips and Jesse Ferge’s Fox Valley Hermia looked like a million bucks on Thursday night (June 30) at Maywood Park as she ran her record to a perfect three for three, crushing eight other Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacing fillies by 13-3/4 lengths in 1:58 in the $9,000 Juxtaposition Stake.

Maywood Park photo

Ronnie Gillespie and Fox Valley Hermia were all alone at the wire as they cruised home with an easy win in the $9,000 Juxtaposition Stake.

Confidently handled by driver Ronnie Gillespie, the daughter of Yankee Skyscraper-Hidden Princess stormed right to the front from her inside starting spot. Rolling through splits of :29.1 and 1:00 the Graham Ross, Jr. trainee seemed to kick it into another gear as the field headed up the backstretch the final time.

Quickly leaving her rivals behind Fox Valley Hermia opened up a five length advantage as she cruised by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:29.2.

Widening her advantage as she seemed to fly around the final turn the filly quickly upped her advantage to 7-1/2 lengths midway around the bend and then completely left her rivals in the dust as she rattled off a :28.3 final quarter to remain perfect in her career. Lasting Endeavor (John De Long), who was caught up in some traffic problems near the back of the pack, rallied late to finish second while High On The Hog (John Roberts), who was sitting in the pocket through the early going, wound up a distant third, some 15-3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Hammered at the betting windows after winning her first two starts, Fox Valley Hermia returned just $3.00, $2.60 and $3.20 to her legion of backers.

Stakes action continues on Friday night (July 1) at Maywood Park with a classy field of seven older pacers meeting in the $30,000 Cook County Stake while a total of 14 2-year-old colts and geldings square off in a pair of $7,000 Enzo The Baker Stake splits. Post time on Friday is 7:10 p.m. (CDT).