Free wins ISOBA at May

The public’s overwhelming 3-10 choice Free had little trouble chalking up another added-money event at Maywood Park, taking the $17,000 Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association (ISOBA) stake for 3-year-old state-bred filly pacers Thursday night.

Trained by veteran Hoosier horseman Stan Miller, Free ($2.60) was again nicely handled by regular driver Sam Widger as she posted a 1:55.2 victory on a very sloppy racetrack pelted all afternoon and evening by a steady rain.

Widger left enough with Free from the four post in the nine-horse field to drop her into early pocket behind the pacesetter Indy Pendent Bay (Nick Clegg). Spanish Rosey came away well from the second tier to be third. However, driver Homer Hochstetler took his filly out after the leader coming out of the first turn.

Clegg let out a notch on Indy Pendent Bay and Spanish Rosey dropped into the two hole at the :28.1 first quarter. Widger brought Free out in the second turn and was third on the outside of Indy Pendant Bay at the :57 half. Free steadily gained on the leader and was only a half length off at the 1:26.1 third marker. Free then cleared to the front and pulled away without much effort, winning for the 15th time in 24 season starts.

Kissmekissmekissme closed for second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths under guidance of Ryan Anderson, who had six winners on the Thursday card. Little Sweetheart (Jason Dillander) came on strong to be third, another quarter of a length behind.

“I didn’t mind racing her first-up,” said a mud-drenched Widger. “That way I’d stay out of trouble with her and she’s content to sit out there. She won’t try and wear herself out if she’s racing first over. It was a brutal night, weather-wise, out there, but she handled the track nicely.”

Free’s victory increased her second season earnings to $234,635 for Robert Le Roy Enterprises Inc. of Elgin, Ill. The homebred daughter of Armbro Mackintosh earlier this season at Maywood won an ISOBA. stake (May 4), the inaugural Giggles The Clown stake (July 31) and the $100,000 Maywood Filly Pace Championship 13 nights ago. (Maywood Park)

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