Getting a confident steer from driver Travis Seekman, Dennis Nehmer and Robert Phillips' Dakota Roadster powered by his rivals nearing the half-mile mark and never looked back in route to an impressive three and a half length victory in Friday’s $10,000 Fox Valley Barzgar Stake at Maywood Park. The final time was 1:57.4.
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Despite starting in the second tier, Seekman managed to get his charge away in fourth as Fox Valley Cadet (Todd Warren) and Pathologist (Brian Carpenter) battled through an opening quarter in :29.
Heading into the stretch for the first time, Seekman made what would prove to be the winning move, pulling from fourth and powering to the top as the field reached the half-mile mark in :58.4.
Quickly facing pressure from a hard-charging Getter Done Dune, these two battled neck and neck by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:28.1. A fit and fresh Dakota Roadster then seemed to find another gear on the final turn, rebuffing the challenge of the favourite as he began putting daylight between himself and his rivals while pacing away to his first career victory. Joels Z Tam (Casey Leonard), who got away to a slow start, rallied from last to finish second while Getter Done Dune held on for third.
An $8,500 yearling purchase, Dakota Roadster returned $7.80, $5.00 and $7.40 while running his record to one win and two seconds in three career starts with earnings of $8,500.
(Maywood Park)