Stakes champ favored in distaff Open
January 6, 2004,by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park
Melrose Park, IL — Multi stake champion C C Spice heads up the Chicago circuit’s first Open Pace for fillies and mares of the new year on Wednesday night at Maywood Park.
Six mares will take on last season’s $215,000 American-National (Balmoral) and $130,400 Courageous Lady (Northfield) champion in the $16,500 ninth race feature.
The 2-1-morning line favorite drew the three slot for driver Dave Magee. Maywood Park Racing Secretary Doc Narotsky assigned CJR Bogert (15-1, Pat Wolf) and Kennan’s Mama (10-1, Del Chupp) posts one and two, respectively. From the four slot out is Silent Win (8-1, Art Gregory), Letmedotitmyway (6-1, Ron Marsh), Miss Billie Le Ru (5-2, Tony Morgan), and Crystal Clear (4-1, Dale Hiteman).
C C Spice parlayed a 13 win season for trainer Robert Harmon into $356,849 in purse earnings for Blissfield, Michigan owner Chuck Campbell. The now four-year-old mare gave a very good account of herself in the Breeders Crown Final, finishing fourth, beaten two and one-half lengths in the $670,000 event against North America’s very best sophomore fillies.
Her lone ’03 appearance at Maywood Park saw C C Spice zip out from the one slot in last October’s Cinderella, parking out the 2-5 favorite Loyal Opposition to torrid first half fractions of :27 flat and :543, before both fillies faded in the $100,000 stake.
Michael Polansky’s Miss Billie Le Ru was a 1:552 (:271 final panel) Open Pace victor on December 16 at Balmoral Park, the mare’s last start of ’03. The Tom Harmer-trainee is making her Maywood Park debut on Wednesday for her Loudonville, New York owner.