Fields for Series Finals Shaping Up

The finalists for two-year-olds events for this Saturday’s Night of Champions starting series field have been determined. After two rounds of action, the leading money earners will vie for series Finals with purses that range from $46,000 to $78,500.

 There is a special early first post of 6:30 p.m. on this Saturday evening’s card highlighted by the $92,000 Robert F. Carey Jr. Memorial Pace.

  She’s So Hot, who sped to a new Hawthorne track record for a two-year-old pacing filly with a 1:52.4 mile last week with Dave Magee, heads up the $78,500 Broadway Tax Final. Also sewing up a berth in the freshman stake were Dingy’s Model, Part Time Lover, Kellys Keepsake, Parklane Starlet, Miss Violet, Ms Diehard, Ali Cat and Sienna Blue.

  The top ten finishers through the first two legs of the Fox Valley Dynamic Series were Too Much Pepper, Mucho Sleazy, Omaha Survivor, Determine This, Fox Valley Quantum, Aint No Hearsay, Fox Valley Carmelo, Game Time Who, King Of Kings and Wesmolempeacepipe. The freshman pacing colt championship is worth $71,500. All four series legs were won by different first season colts—Too Much Pepper, Mucho Sleazy, Omaha Survivor and Determine This.

  The other two first season series showdowns are for state bred trotters. Maxter, winner of two consecutive series legs for trainer Roger Welch had the most points earned in the Plesac Series for colts and geldings with 10,000. Also assured a starting berth in this $58,000 championship are Mood Man, Kan Jamaicamecrazy, Valley Speed, Spirit Warrior, Mystical Account and Riprimetime.

 Welch also has the early favorite in the $57,500 Star Slinger Final for ICF juvenile fillies. Roger’s So Sexy nailed down victories in both of her series starts and is ranked No. 1 in the trotting event. So Sexy will be challenged by Chugwater Gal, Judy Luns, Lit Bit Tuff, International Red, Fox Valley Tina, Kanlin Gold and Rainbow Victoria. A draw will determine last two finalists among Fox Valley London, Upside Yankee, Cardinal Speedy and Miss Vapor Trail.

  NOTES: In Tuesday’s seventh race are two noteworthy freshman colt first starters.  No. 3 Big Boy Lloyd was bought for $37,000 at the 2006 Harrisburg (PA) Sale under the name Bruise Cruise. No. 7 Fox Valley Granada is a full brother to the former ICF multi-stake champion Fox Valley Flan (1:53.3, $495,133) . . . Trainer Erv Miller rolled out some highly touted young prospects during qualifying races prior to the start of Hawthorne’s regular Wednesday card. Muscles Mass, a $100,000 yearling buy, was 14-plus lengths best (2:01.2 with :28.2 last quarter) preparing for his two-year-old debut. His three-year-old stablemate Andover Andover won his qualifier by 12 ½ with a :28.2 last panel. The one-time $170,000 yearling won at The Meadowlands last month in 1:56.4 and is Hambletonian stake eligible. Brent Holland drove both well-bred trotters . . . On the pacing side Miller drove the Illinois bred Venusinblujeans to a 1:57.2 winning mile. The freshman filly’s siblings include King Johnny (1:49.2), Renee’s Queen (1:50.3) and Nanny Withafanny (1:50.3). Venusinbluejeans sold for $25,000 at last year’s Illini Sale . . . Miller is also getting last year’s Springfield freshman champion Kiss Of Heavens ready for a start. Her 1:54.2 (:26.3 last panel) mile with Holland was the fastest of the night. A neck behind her was Miller’s Western Culture, who went 5-for-6 on the east coast earlier in the season.