by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Royal Man was given a pocket trip by driver Mike Oosting and the 7-10 public’s choice took advantage of it, shooting past in mid-stretch to nail down a half length victory in Friday night’s $12,100 conditioned pace feature at Maywood Park.

Maywood Park Photo

Royal Man (Mike Oosting) won Friday night’s Maywood feature race with a 1:52.2 clocking.

Royal Man ($3.40) came into the ninth race headliner fresh off a solid third place performance in last Friday’s $250,000 Windy City Pace won by Jereme’s Jet. The 3-year-old son of Cambest was beaten 1-1/4 lengths. “We would have been closer if I could have got him wound up sooner but it just didn’t work out that way,” said Oosting.

This Friday night everything worked to perfection for Oosting and the Rucker Stable.

The venerable state-bred Constant Change showed his usual rapid gate speed and shot out to a quick lead. Royal Man, who had the two post, was dropped behind him by Oosting, and the rest of the eight horse field also fell into line.

Constant Change followed his :27.2 first quarter with a very soft :29 second panel with Royal Man right on his back.

“I was hoping Constant Change would carry us all the way to the lane,” said Oosting. “But that horse has been kind of a Jekyll and Hyde this year, so I was concerned. Nevertheless, where we were sitting I couldn’t pull.”

As it turned out, Constant Change had little trouble putting away the first-over Non Commital A (Sam Widger) by the 1:25.3 three-quarter marker. Conversely, the pacesetter couldn’t hold off the strong surge of Royal Man, who used a speedy :27 flat last quarter to finish off his winning 1:52.2 mile. Jilliby Spirit A (Joshua Sutton), who sat third inside throughout the race, came on to get the show spot, two more lengths behind.

The victory was Royal Man’s seventh in 29 second season starts for owners Engel Stable (Buffalo Grove, IL), D.R. Van Witzenburg (Crest Hill, IL) and Sheffield Stable (Gladwyne, PA). The gelding’s 2006 earnings now stand at $116,992.

Royal Man’s win was the third of four on the night for Oosting and the first three were behind Ken Rucker trained horses.

“Most everything in Ken’s stable is sharp right now,” said Oosting. “He had some sick horses for a while but he’s got them trained down now and they’re all racing good.”

Earlier on the card Oosting drove Rucker’s Incredivelocity (second race) and Fox Valley Fussy (sixth race) to victories. The Michigan native also guided Happy Gilmour N (12th race) to a win for trainer Ryan Bellamy.