by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — When the draw came out for Friday night’s (December 30) $12,000 Incredible Series showdown bringing together the leaders in both the two and three-year-old filly divisions, driver Brent Holland had to have a smile on his face.

It was nine nights ago that Holland drove Red Head Tramp to a convincing front-stepping victory in the series final for strictly second season sophomore state bred fillies. When asked after the easy victory if he was worried about a particular horse in the race, the 34-year-old Wilmington, Ohio native replied: “I really wasn’t worried about any horse. I was just worried about getting the lead.”

Brent won’t have much of a worried look on his face when Red Head Tramp takes on seven ICF foes in the seventh race feature because the Greg Kobylenski trained filly drew the coveted one slot and no doubt will make it very difficult for any horse to grab command from her.

Red Head Tramp will open up as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Illinois owner and breeder Wanna Zizzo when she attempts to extend her winning streak at Maywood Park to three in a row and nail down season victory number nine.

Six of the chestnut filly’s seven foes in the Friday feature are two-year-olds, including number seven Shes A Big Star (3-1, Andy Miller), a strong 1:56 flat victor on December 20 when she romped in the Incredible Finale Series Final for freshmen.

The juvenile challengers (from the two slot out) are Heartland Charmer (9-2. Dale Hiteman), Ms Macatac (12-1, Mike Oosting), TJ’s Molly May (6-1), Jolene’s Princess (5-1, Tony Morgan) and Little Sweetheart (8-1, Sam Widger). The three-year-old filly Amy Town (15-1, Mark Saporito) will buck the outside eight post.

Shes A Big Star has shown she has the ability to brush past in the straight-aways and prevail for trainer Nelson Willis. However, the Incredible Finale offspring did go off stride on the lead here in her first series leg (December 12). It was only the youngster’s second career start at Maywood Park. She finished fourth this past summer in her Violet Stake elimination.