Maywood Park’s driver and trainer titles for 2012 may have gone to a pair of first-time winners, but both are very familiar with the winner's circle as veterans Mike Oosting and Angie Affrunti toted home top honours at the Melrose Park oval.
Oosting, who also captured the driving title at Balmoral Park, easily outdistanced last year’s driving champion Marcus Miller by a count of 214-180. The 50-year-old Beecher, Illinois native won at a 21 per cent clip, posting a UDRS of .341 while racking up $1,026,252 in purse earnings.
With more than 5,100 career victories, the seven-time Balmoral Park champion was genuinely happy to post his first Maywood title.
“It’s nice to win one here at Maywood,” said Oosting. “This is the first time that I’ve pretty much spent the entire year coming up here to drive on both nights of racing and it certainly paid off. I plan on continuing to do this in 2013 and hopefully if we can get some legislative help it will really make the drive up here a profitable one.”
The 48-year-old Affrunti, who lives in Lockport, Illinois but is stabled at Maywood Park, dominated the trainer standings from start to finish knocking off runner-up Perry Smith by a count of 81-53. Dave McCaffrey finished third with 50 wins.
“I’m really overwhelmed and very excited about winning this title,” said Affrunti after her winner’s circle presentation. “My brother Darin, who was disabled after falling from a horse last winter, has been my inspiration. My goal from the start was to show him that when you work hard and put your mind to something good things can happen and it worked out wonderfully. He’s as excited about this as I am and we plan on having him come into town if possible for the awards banquet in February.”
Affrunti, who currently trains 24 horses for various owners, posted a UTRS of .386 while racking up $308,326 in purse earnings at Maywood Park. She also finished sixth in the trainer standings at Balmoral Park.
(Maywood Park)