by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Violet elimination winners Parklane Starlet, She’s So Hot and Venusinbluejeans on Thursday night (October 4) earned their way into the championship round for 2-year-old state-bred pacing fillies. The $60,000 (est.) Violet Final will be raced on Friday, October 12, Windy City Pace Night at Maywood Park.

Also advancing to the final were Westside Gritty, Impressive Char and Party Paula, the second place finishers in their respective eliminations splits. Because a first or second place elimination finish was needed to be assured a start in the final, a drawing will take place between the three third place elim finishers — Don’tmakemelaugh, Mokey and Get That Cheese — to determine which two of the three fillies will start in the championship.

In the first Violet elimination, driver Brandon Simpson hustled out Parklane Starlet ($13.40), parking out the heavy 2-5 favorite Westside Gritty through much of a :28.1 first quarter before taking the pocket. Jason Dillander had command with the public’s choice through middle quarter times of :57.4 and 1:26.1 while Parklane Starlet enjoyed the two-hole journey. In the lane the winner put on a big burst through the open stretch and posted a three-quarter length decision in 1:54.3.

“The trip couldn’t have gone any better,” said Simpson. “I was hoping to get behind the four horse (Westside Gritty). “When the passing lane opened up my filly had plenty of pace. Homer (trainer Hochstetler) told me that she was sharp and that she’d be O.K. on this half-miler and he was right.”

Parklane Starlet’s victory snapped a 10-race losing streak for Schaumburg, Ill. owners Arthur and Shirley Le Vin. The homebred won for the second time in 13 starts.

Maywood Park photo

She’s So Hot (Dave Magee) breezed in the second Violet elimination in 1:54.3.

In the second elim, driver Dave Magee floated the 7-10 favorite She’s So Hot from the outside seven slot and dropped into fourth when the one Impressive Char (Brandon Simpson) and two NJ’s Mustang Sally (Ronnie Gillespie) hooked up in a duel through the first turn. Impressive Char had the lead at the :27.2 first panel when Magee made his move with She’s So Hot.

The Rick Schrock trainee ($3.40) came out in the second turn and brushed to the top in easy fashion at the :57.1 half-mile marker. She’s So Hot had a 1-1/2 length lead at the 1:25.3 three-quarter pole and steadily drew away from the field, winning by 2-1/2 lengths over runner-up Impressive Char in 1:54.3.

“She’s So Hot really handled the track well,” said Magee. “She was super tonight and won well within herself. Now we’ll have to see how the draw goes in the final.”

She’s So Hot had rattled off eight consecutive victories, including championships at Springfield and Hawthorne before her disappointing third place finishes in both her Orange and Blue elimination and the $260,000 Super Night final. Owned by James and Donna Crebs, the daughter of Richess Hanover has a first season bankroll of $124,775 going into the October 12 showdown.

The eighth race third division came down to a head-to-head duel between the two favorites, 5-2 Party Paula (Todd Warren) and 4-5 Venusinbluejeans (Marcus Miller). Party Paula kept Venusinbluejeans on her outside through most of the third quarter and the entire last panel before Venusinbluejeans ($3.60) got up in time in the final strides, winning in 1:55.2.

“I thought she fit very well in her elimination and I wanted to give her every chance to win it,” said 18-year-old Marcus Miller, who was driving in his first pari-mutuel race at Maywood Park.

Owned by Omer Miller of Humboldt, Ill., and trained by Erv Miller, the Ft Apache Hanover filly will carry a record of three wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine first season starts into the Violet Final, with earnings of $85,070.