For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Miller (708) 780-3700
Final Preps for Night
of Champions at Hawthorne
STICKNEY, IL – After an action packed Friday card that saw
eight races with implications for next week’s Night of Champions at Hawthorne,
eight more races on Saturday were contested to help shape next week’s big card.
The evening
began with leg four action in the Beulah Dygert
Memorial trot for Illinois-bred, three-year-old fillies as a field of nine
lined up to contest the action. Trotting
Grace was sent away as the heavy favorite with Kyle Husted driving. Leaving for the lead was White Pants Fever as
Trotting Grace tucked in just behind through the quarter in
:29.2. On the backstretch,
Trotting Grace took over from White Pants Fever as the Searle trained duo
passed the half one-two in :59.2. On the turn, Trotting Grace remained in
command, passing three quarters in 1:28.3.
In the lane, White Pants Fever tired as Trotting Grace faced a fresh
challenge from New Queen. On the wire,
Trotting Grace held on by a half-length over New Queen. Maui Mama got up for third. The final time for the mile was 1:57.0. Trotting Grace in owned in partnership by
Bill Wright, Mystical Marker Farms LLC, and trainer Steve Searle.
Race
three was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Plum Peachy for
Illinois-bred, three-year-old filly pacers.
A field of eight contested the race as Allbeastnobeauty
was sent away favored. Leaving for the
lead was The New Americana as Kyle Husted guided her through the opening
quarter in :28.2.
Chased by JB’s Shooting Star, The New Americana passed the half in :57.0. Cruising along through three quarters in 1:24.3,
The New Americana went unchallenged through the wire, winning in 1:52.4. JB’s Shooting Star finished second while Allbeastnobeauty was third.
The New Americana is owned by Dave Falzone,
James Molitor and Steven Leita
and trained by Harold Herrera.
Race
four was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Kadabra
Stakes for Illinois-bred, two-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The field of
six saw Foxvalleysrushhour go favored with Juan
Franco driving. Making the lead was Fox
Valley Cruise with Kyle Husted driving as they passed the quarter in :30.0. On the
backside, For Trots Sakes ranged up to challenge, through a half in :59.1. The challenge did not last for long though as Fox
Valley Cruise regained the lead on the turn, covering three quarters in
1:29.4. In the stretch, Foxvalleysrushhour tipped out to challenge but the move was
too late as Fox Valley Cruise held on. For Trots Sakes finished third. The final time for the mile was 1:59.4. Fox Valley Cruise is owned by Phil Langley,
John Schwarz, Jr., and trainer Jim Eaton.
Race
five was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Incredible Finale with a
field of six, led by Maximus and driver Kyle Wilfong. Getting away quickly was Cooter Luke, but
Maximus moved up from the outside to challenge through the quarter in :28.4. After a
half in :59.3, Maximus was pushed into the turn by Fox
Valley Julius. The duo passed three
quarters in 1:28.3 as Fox Valley Julius put his head in front turning into the
lane. After a long stretch drive,
Maximus dug in and battled back, winning over Fox Valley Julius in 1:56.0.
Riley the Mooss finished third. Maximus is owned by The Panhellenic Stable
Corporation and Ken Rucker and trained by Kim Roth.
Race
six on Saturday was the second division of the Kadabra
with Louscardamon favored for driver Mike Oosting. Shortly
after the start Louscardamon broke stride and dropped
to the back of the pack as Trixie’s Turbo inherited the lead in
:30.1. On the backstretch, Trixie’s
Turbo cruised along as second-choice Fox Valley Picaso
also broke stride. Passing the half in
1:00.3 and three quarters in 1:30.2, Trixie’s Turbo led the field into the lane
through the easy fractions. A clear
winner at the wire, Trixie’s Turbo rolled home in 1:59.3. 85-1 shot Frontier Manard got up for second while Big Garcia Vega finished
third. Trixie’s Turbo is owned by
Charles Doehring and is trained by Jared Finn.
Race
eight was the second division of leg four of the Incredible Finale with seven
horses led by the duo of The Bucket, with Casey Leonard driving and Meyer On Fire, driven by Mike Oosting. At the start, it was longshot Coming Up who
was able to grab the lead, backing the pace down through an opening quarter in :30.3. Chased by Meyer on Fire through a slow half in
1:00.2, Coming Up maintained his advantage into the turn. After three quarters in 1:29.1, Coming Up and
Ridge Warren led the field into the lane as Meyer on Fire tipped out and The
Bucket began to move from the back of the back.
Late in the lane Meyer on Fire took over, winning in 1:56.3. Coming Up
was game, holding on for second while The Bucket finished third. Meyer on Fire is owned by Engel Stable of
Illinois LLC and is trained by Erv Miller.
Race
nine was the second division of the Plum Peachy as the field of eight was led
by favored Fox Valley Jazzy, driven by Ridge Warren. Leaving for the lead was Rollin Coal, as she
passed the quarter in :28.0 and half in :58.0. Chased by Fox Valley Jazzy into the turn,
Rollin Coal kept her advantage, covering three quarters in 1:26.2. Into the lane, Rollin Coal was challenged by
Party Belle and Travis Seekman, while Fox Valley
Jazzy altered course to the outside. At
the wire, Party Belle got up in time, winning in 1:54.2. Fox Valley Jazzy finished second while Skeeter Machine was third.
Party Belle is owned by Ladavie Spann, along
with trainer Tyler George.
Race
ten was the elimination for the Tony Maurello for
Illinois-bred aged filly and mare pacers.
The top eight qualify for the final as Fox Valley Charm was the favorite
with Mike Oosting in the bike. Getting away quickly was the favorite as she
carved out the early fractions of :28.2 and :58.0 for
the half. After three quarters in
1:25.4, Fox Valley Charm turned into the lane with a brief lead as a wall of
challengers lined up behind her.
Rallying late in the stretch to take over was Fancy Creek Jolene and
Robert Smolin as she got up in the shadow of the wire
for the victory. Char N Marg closed to
finish second while Fox Valley Charm held on for third. The final time for the mile was 1:52.4. Fancy Creek Jolene is owned by Michael Wolf
and Set The Pace Racing LLC and trained by Kim
Hamilton.
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, continues
the summer harness season through September 24.
Fall thoroughbreds close out the year, running from October 5 through
December 29. For more information, visit
www.Hawthorneracecourse.com or
contact Hawthorne at 708-780-3700.