by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — The first stake of the 2012 season at Maywood Park was contested on Thursday (April 26) as a field of nine sophomore pacing fillies squared off in the $15,000 Desperate Lady Stake.

Fresh off a big third-place finish in a tune-up against conditioned rivals at Balmoral Park to open her season, Ciara Stables and John Carver’s No Respect made every call a winning one as she scored by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1.

Maywood Park photo

No Respect and driver Mike Oosting made every call a winning one in Thursday’s $15,000 Desperate Lady Stake at Maywood Park.

Confidently handled by driver Mike Oosting, the daughter of Sportsmaster-Justalittlerespect gunned away from post position four, beating Rich N Fancy (John Roberts) to the front as the field raced through an opening quarter in :28. Settling in the rest of the way, the Tom Harmer trained miss easily paced through middle splits of :58.3 and 1:28 while under no pressure whatsoever.

Oosting then asked the brown filly for a bit more and she responded beautifully, keeping the pocket sitting Rich N Fancy at bay with a :28.1 final quarter to post her first win as a 3-year-old. Rich N Fancy was a clear cut second while T E’s Zenyatta (Todd Warren) turned a ground saving trip into a third-place finish.

The win was the fifth in 12 lifetime starts for No Respect, who now boasts career earnings of $107,586 and figures to be a major player throughout the year in the ICF 3-year-old filly ranks.

Sent off as the even-money choice by the wagering public, No Respect certainly had the confidence of the gamblers as she returned $4.00, $2.40 and $2.40.