Loyal Opposition beaten

Fox Valley Fussy pulled off a stunning upset in Thursday night’s $17,500 Ideal Angel Stakes at Maywood Park, where she won a four-horse blanket finish, in 1:53.4 and defeated Loyal Opposition. Having to leave from the outside post position in a field of eight proved to be too much to overcome for Loyal Opposition (Dave Magee). The multimillionaire, 6-year-old mare from the Erv Miller Stable raced wide for a good portion of the mile and finished fourth, beaten by only a neck, in the state-bred stakes for fillies and mares.

Driver Todd Warren used the coveted number one post to his advantage and hustled Fox Valley Tussy ($80.20) from the get-go, which enabled the 4-year-old mare to get what turned out to be a winning pocket trip behind the 5-2 second favorite, Brianna Joy, who cut all the fractions before she gave way in deep stretch. Oneinamilliongirl (Dale Hiteman), who raced inside behind the surprising winner, came on with a rush to finish third, only a head behind Fox Valley Fussy and a scant nose in back of the runner-up, Brianna Joy.

"Fox Valley Fussy was third a few starts ago at Hawthorne to Loyal Opposition,” winning driver Todd Warren said. “I thought she’d be very competitive in here because they had done some vet work on her in between starts. Last week she was very flat and was on the right line a little bit. Tonight she was perfect -- strong and steady on both lines. She’s got a good move in her, and with that kind of trip I thought she’d be very strong at the wire.” (Mike Paradise for Maywood Park)

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