by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Longshot Hot N Sporty came on with a rush and pulled off a nose decision at 10-1 odds in Friday night’s (September 21) $12,300 featured conditioned pace at Maywood Park, coming from far out of it with driver Brent Holland.

Maywood Park photo

Hot N Sporty (7) got up in the last stride for driver Brent Holland and won Friday’s feature in 1:52.4.

Indy Dreamer, who had to battle through some very fast fractions to keep the lead, ended up a whisker behind at the end of the 1:52.4 mile. Hammered down to 2-5 odds with his entry mate Live Out Loud, Indy Dreamer finished a half-length better than the pocket horse Kashitin (Del Chupp) who grabbed the show spot.

Sam Widger had the pedal down from the onset with Indy Dreamer, who shot out from the pole position and kept (number six) Robin Of Locksley parked out through a sizzling :26.2 first panel. They raced side-by-side through the :55 half. The second-over Live Out Loud was then pulled by driver Ryan Anderson three-wide in the third turn around the tiring Robin Of Locksley.

All the while, Holland had Hot N Sporty on the inside in seventh, five-plus lengths behind the leader at the half and again at the 1:24.2 three-quarters when Live Out Loud tried in vain to get past his entry mate.

Holland took Hot N Sporty three-deep in the last turn and they still were seventh, 4-3/4 lengths behind at the top of the lane. Hot N Sporty ($22.20) then revved it up a notch, flew on the outside down the stretch, and nailed Indy Dreamer right at the wire.

“They were going fast enough that I was hoping I could push out a little earlier but that didn’t work out. But this horse has always had one really good move in him. So I decided if I did sit-in he still would have that one big move,” said Holland.

“My horse came up with a little better finish than he’s had lately. He went three-deep and he was full of pace all the way through the wire. He’s good on a half. In fact, he’s probably better on a half than on a big track. He’s got that big spurt and it’s just as fast on a small track, so he can be really effective here. Maywood has a stake for him coming up (the $40,000 Egyptian) in a couple of weeks and Erv (trainer Miller) wanted to race him tonight to see how he’d do. I guess you have to say he did pretty well,” said Brent with a smile.

The victory was Hot N Sporty’s fourth in 27 season’s starts, pushing his earnings to $69,764. The 5-year-old son of Sportsmaster’s career bankroll stands at $264,152. Hot N Sporty was sold privately to Illinoisans John Carver (Rapid City) and Bert Hochsprung (Elburn) this past August 31.