Nash Gram rocks early, rolls on to Maywood victory

Taking full advantage of their inside starting spot in Friday’s $10,000 Fox Valley Barzgar Stake at Maywood Park, driver Josh Sutton sent Nash Gram right to the front and the issue was never in doubt as the youngster strolled to a very easy 2 1/4-length victory over eight rivals in 1:56.

Whisked away from the pylons as soon as the wings of the starting gate folded this son of Henry Gram-Ladylux had no problem protecting his early position as he led the field through an opening quarter in :29.1. Getting away with an easy second-quarter breather Nash Gram was comfortably in front as the youngsters reached the halfway point in :59.3.

“Once we were able to get away with that slow of a half and nobody seemed to be coming I felt pretty confident that he’d have no trouble getting home with something left,” said Sutton.

While his rivals tried in vain to make up ground on the pacesetter, Sutton simply stepped on the gas and Nash Gram responded beautifully, rattling off a last half of :56.2 to pick up his second career victory. Ooby Dooby (Todd Warren), a 29-1 longshot who started in the second tier, managed to follow the winner's every move as he turned the pocket trip into a second-place check while Fort Hamilton (Brandon Simpson) finished third, five lengths behind the winner.

Dispatched as the even-money favorite, Nash Gram returned $4.20 while running his record to 2-3-0 in six starts for trainer Thomas Graham and owner Carol Graham of Salem, Ill. (Maywood Park) 

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