It’s Roland John from start to finish at Maywood
March 20, 2004,by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park
Melrose Park, IL — Richard Gurrola’s Roland John N (Brent Holland) proved to be the fastest in what amounted to be a half-mile dash, winning Friday night’s $13,100 feature race conditioned pace in front end fashion at Maywood Park.
Sent off as the 3-2 favorite from the advantageous one slot, Brent Holland didn’t have to hustle the six-year-old New Zealand bred much to get the lead as the six horse field fell into post position order.
Maywood Park Photo
Roland John N (number 1, Brent Holland) held off a fast closing Zacs Rocker (Dave Magee) and took Friday night’s feature race at Maywood Park.
Taking advantage of the situation, Roland John got away with a leisurely :29 first quarter to be in command, and with no one out and going after the leader, the Falcon Seelster gelding strolled to a :30 flat second quarter. Fox Valley Joseph (Pat Berry) raced first up after the pacesetter but broke on the backside as Roland John zipped to a quick :553 second half with consecutive :274 quarters, nailing down his second season’s victory in 1:543.
Fifth at the half and some four-plus lengths off the pacesetter, Zacs Rocker (Dave Magee) came on with a rush (:271) to grab the runner-up spot, only a neck behind the winner. Dashing Diplomat (Gary Rath), who had a garden trip most of the way, took third, beaten one length.
“This horse gets around Maywood great,” said driver Brent Holland in the winner’s circle. “In fact, I think he’s a better Maywood horse than a Balmoral horse, because he was stronger in the turns than he was in the straight-aways. He came a very strong last half and still had plenty left, and I never really got after him.”
Owner-trainer Richard Gurrola said that he had claimed the horse a few starts prior, and on February 20 in a race here at Maywood, the horse bled.
“We put him on Lasix and then qualified him at Balmoral,” Gurrola said. “I had followed his career for sometime, as he is a New Zealand-bred horse, and I’m a big advocate of buying ‘Down Under’ horses. I’ve had a lot of success with them, and that’s what prompted me to claim this horse initially.”