by Michael Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

MELROSE PARK. IL—L & L Devisser’s Future Forecast ($19.40) dug in gamely in the lane, pulling off an upset in a five-horse blanket finish in Wednesday night’s $16,500 Open Pace for fillies and mares at Maywood Park.

Maywood Park Photo.

Future Forecast (3) won a five-horse photo in the Open Pace for fillies and mares Wednesday at Maywood Park.

It was Future Forecast’s second win of the young season for driver Dale Hiteman and trainer Joe Seekman. The six-year-old daughter of Falcons Future stopped the timer in 1:56.2 in the ninth race feature.

“This mare really wasn’t herself the last time we raced her here,” said Hiteman after the race. “The weather had been very cold and she was not coming into it very sharp because she was just getting over throat surgery.”

Future Forecast, who raced outside of the 7-5 favorite Alwaysanadventure (Ron Marsh) through most of the middle quarters, was a nose better than the fast closing Apple of My Eye (Ryan Anderson). Kennan’s Mama (Del Chupp) took third, beaten a head, while Alwaysandventure was held on for fourth, only a neck short of the winner.

The 3-2 co-favorite Giggles The Clown (Dave Magee pushed Alwaysanadventure to a :27.3 first quarter and picked up the last purse check, beaten a half-length. The Carl Porcelli trained Alwaysanadventure then took the six-horse field through :56.4 and 1:26 middle quarters.

“Future Forecast runs in a little bit here at Maywood but not bad enough to make a difference in her performance,” continued Hiteman. “She’s just the perfect mare to drive. Seekman has had her two or three years and she is just another one of his horses that is extremely consistent.”

Future Forecast pushed her career earnings to $258,136 with her nose victory for her Holland, Michigan owners.