by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Water Wings worked hard to grab the lead and it paid off for his backers when he sped to a 1:55.1 wire-to-wire victory in Friday night’s $14,250 tenth race feature for $50,000 claiming horses at Maywood Park.

Driver Sam Widger had to use number one Water Wings ($12.80) hard once the gate sprang open to get command going into the first turn, putting the number two Fox Valley Riff (Tim Tetrick) into the two hole, while the public’s choice Rah (Andy Miller), who was three-wide in the early going, settled into third.

Water Wings took the field to a :27.4 first quarter and was able to get away with a :29.3 second panel (:57.2 half) before Lifetime Man (Dale Hiteman) came at him. The pacesetter still was on top by one and one-quarter lengths at the 1:26.3 three-quarter pole when the pocket horse Fox Valley Riff went off stride.

The even-money favorite Rah, who looked hopelessly locked-in, then was able to get around the breaking horse and had dead aim on Water Wings turning for home, but the Dave McCaffrey-trained eight-year-old gelding wouldn’t be denied from picking up his first win of the season in his sixth start for MJGB Racing Stables Inc. of Suffern, New York.

“My horse took advantage of having the rail tonight,” said Widger. “He was as good tonight as he’s been in the past few starts but just he’s so much better on the front end. He’s a very easy horse to drive. He digs in when a horse comes at him and stays alongside him. Otherwise if he’s up on top by a good margin, he gets a little lost. He’s better when he’s being pushed the whole mile.”

Water Wings gave Dave McCaffrey a training triple. He also conditioned first race winner Benny B Benny and third race victor Nanny Withafanny.

It was also a very successful Friday evening for driver Andy Miller, who brought home five winners on the 12 race card.