by Mike Paradise, director of publicity, Maywood Park

MELROSE PARK, IL—Michael’s Western made his Maywood Park debut an unforgettable one when he paced the fastest mile ever in the half-mile track’s long 58-year history with a 1:51 flat clocking in Friday night’s $22,000 Free For All Pace.

Maywood Park Photo by Kimberly Rinker

Driver Ryan Anderson with Michael’s Western, who became the fastest horse in Maywood Park history Friday night.

The record mile came in the 5-year-old gelding’s very first start the Joe Anderson Stable and his new California owners Gordon Eyraud, Gayner Palmer and Errol Murphy, Jr, who bought Michael Western in a private purchase on March 19.

Sent off at 6-1 odds, driver Ryan Anderson settled Michael’s Western ($14.00) into fourth and watched in delight as the two betting favorites, No. 1 Mattygonne A (Dave Magee) and No. 3 JW’s Moe Money (Tony Morgan) duked it out suicide fractions of :27.1 and :27.3 with the former keeping the latter parked throughout the sizzling :54.4 first half.

Ryan made his move with Michael’s Western coming out of the third turn. Anderson then sent the son of Western Hanover three-wide on the backside and the winner zoomed past the tiring leaders, taking a two-length lead by the 1:23.3 three quarter pole.

Michael’s Western still had plenty left for the last quarter, coming home in a quick :27.2 for a seven and one-quarter length triumph in track record time with Anderson’s whip still tucked under his right arm. Abouttolosecontrol came on to claim the runner-up spot, while Roland John N was third, beaten another five and one-quarter lengths.

“I had a pretty good hold on this horse, and was glad to see the big speed duel taking place up front early,” Ryan said. “Down the backside I just gassed him out of there, went three-wide and he opened up on his own. After that I just chirped to him and he was gone—if I knew how fast he was going I would have asked him to go faster, because he definitely could have gone faster than 1:51. Out of all the horses I’ve driven, he’s definitely one of the top five.”

Michael’s Western was scheduled to make his Chicago circuit debut in a March 27 Free For All at Balmoral Park but the horse got sick and had to be scratched. He tuned up for Friday night’s FFA event with a winning 1:55.3 Maywood Park qualifier four nights earlier on Monday, April 5.

Michael’s Western 1:51 Maywood Park record clocking was also a lifetime best for the 5-year-old, who captured the Cleveland Classic champion as a sophomore. The $11,000 winner’s share boosted his career earnings to $253,979.