Back-to-back winners at Maywood

As was the case in Thursday night’s Mi Metallica Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies, a pair of stakes winners from last week were right back in the charmed circle on Friday night at Maywood Park as TJ’s Rocky and Fox Valley Libero made it back-to-back scores with each taking a $7,000 division of the Fox Valley Barzgar Stake. 

The opening leg was contested as a non-wagering event and it was all TJ’s Rocky in this test as he sped right to the front for driver-trainer Mike Cox and made every call a winning one while cruising home with a 4 1/2-length victory in a career best 1:55.4. 

Taking advantage of the inside starting spot and the scratch of his main rival Little Pauli, TJ’s Rocky rolled through splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2 as the son of Park Place-Duo Gingersnap scored for the second time in as many starts for owners Judith Bennison and Mike Cox. Parkingonboardwalk (Todd Warren) followed the winners every move and wound up second while Got No Credit (Brian Carpenter) was third. 

In the second division the Nelson Willis-trained Fox Valley Libero made it three straight victories going wire to wire to win by a half-length in 1:57.3. 

Despite leaving from the outside post in the field of five the son of Incredible Finale-Lady Jeeves was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the race. Storming away from the gate for driver Warren, Fox Valley Libero raced a bit wide in the first turn. After giving a “bridge jumper” an anxious moment the gelding was able to get back on course where he proceeded to lead the field through leisurely fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.2 before sealing the deal with a :28.1 final quarter.

Fox Valley Renoir (Marcus Miller) turned a pocket-sitting trip into a second-place finish while Winchesters Hero (Michael Rogers), who made a first over bid at the winner on the final turn, faded to third. (Maywood Park)