by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Hammered down to overwhelming 2-5 odds, Maywood Park track record holder Third Day had no trouble rewarding his many supporters with a comfortable three length victory in his familiar front end fashion with a 1:52.1 clocking in Friday night’s (August 31) $12,300 featured race.

Third Day was pushed hard in the early going by number one, Jo Pa’s Bench Mark (Rick Dane), but the public’s choice had too much gate speed, taking over the lead in the first turn and making every pole a winning one with driver Brent Holland.

The Jim Easton trainee rattled off a quick :26.4 first quarter. However, Holland was able to back the pace down to a slow :29 flat second quarter. Third Day put away the first-up Indy Dreamer, hitting the third quarter pole in 1:24.1 and pulled away with a :28 flat last panel and was still well in hand.

“I wanted the front end and I knew the one horse (Jo Pa’s Bench Mark) is quick from the gate but so is my horse,” said Holland. “I was hoping I could clear him early and we did. I got to control the pace and my horse was strong. He won pretty easily. The track is fast tonight and if I kept on gassing him he would have won in (1):51 tonight.”

The pocket horse Jo Pa’s Bench Mark finished second best, while Tuff E Nuff (Dean Magee) rallied for the show spot, beaten another half-length.

Owned by Redbud Stable, Phil Rock, John Johnston and Williams Johnston III, all of Illinois, Third Day’s victory was his third in 10 season’s starts. Now 4, the son of Cole Muffler had back-to-back 1:51.3 miles in 2006, the fastest ever for a second season pacing gelding at Maywood Park.