For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Miller (708) 780-3700
Night of Champions
Action Continues, Bates Wins 1,000
STICKNEY, IL – With two months left in the summer racing
season at Hawthorne, the Night of Champions legs rolled on as points leaders
looked to extend their leads while others looked to break into the top ten.
Friday
night featured a pair of divisions of leg three of the Robert F. Carey, Jr.
Memorial. The Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial is for Illinois-bred three-year-old
male pacers.
The first
division featured a heavy favorite as 2019 two-year-old champ He’zzz A Wise Sky was sent away as
the 1-9 choice in the field of five.
Despite settling at the back of the pack early on, the favorite didn’t
disappoint as Bobby Smolin confidently handled him,
closing in :27.3 to win by a length-and-a-half. 38-1 longshot Western Perch finished second
while Illini Force was third. The Don Filomeno trained He’zzz A Wise Sky covered the mile over a fast track in 1:53.0.
The
second division of the Carey was also a field of five as a pair of scratches
left Ryans Ambassador and Rg’s
Tracer co-favored. In a race contested
very similarly to the first division, Kim Roth trained Bagman settled at the
back of the field early and rallied for the victory. Driven by Todd Warren, Bagman closed in :27.2 to win by two-lengths in 1:54.4. Ryans Ambassador
was second while Rg’s Tracer finished third.
On
Saturday night a pair of divisions of the Plum Peachy, for Illinois-bred
three-year-old filly pacers took place.
In the first division the favorite didn’t disappoint. Kyle Husted trained Fox Valley Exploit got
the job done as the 2-5 favorite, settling back early and rallying for driver
Casey Leonard to win in 1:53.0. Sign Her
Up closed to finish second while Sleazy Gal was third.
The
second division of the Plum Peachy was a runaway as the Leroy Hunt trained
Double Parked made the top early and drew off in the lane, winning by six
lengths for driver Travis Seekman. Dancin Eyes
finished second while Fox Valley Nia closed to finish third. Double Parked won in 1:54.4.
State-bred
three-year-old trotters were the focus on Sunday as the boys contested a pair
of divisions of the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial while
the girls battled in the Beulah Dygert Memorial.
The
first division of the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial saw an
impressive effort as Crooked Creek was sent away as the heavy favorite and
rolled to a clear six-length score for owner Ed Teefey,
trainer Mike Brink, and driver Mike Oosting. Lous Paisano was second while
Desert Sheik finished third. Crooked
Creek won in 1:56.2.
The
skies opened the following race as rain poured down upon a now sloppy surface
for the first division of the Beulah Dygert
Memorial. While favored Lous Abigail carved out the early fractions, it was driver
Brandon Bates and Fox Valley Extacy who rallied for
the three-length score. The win was
career victory number 1,000 for Bates as a driver as Fox Valley Extacy won in 1:59.0 for trainer Hector Herrera. Lous Abigail held
second while Bee See finished third.
The
second division of the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial also
went to the favorite. This time it was
the Tom Simmons trained Fox Valley Quest.
Taking the early lead for driver Casey Leonard and drawing clear in the
lane, Fox Valley Quest stopped the timer in 1:59.4. On Higher Ground chased to finished
second while Mt Red Thunder closed late to finish third.
The
second division of the Beulah Dygert Memorial was
wide open. While favored Tropical Rosie tired
in the lane, it was second choice Fox Valley Lush who took over in the stretch
and won for driver Todd Warren and trainer Jim Eaton. Lous Cover Girl was
second while Lous Flashy Dancer finished third. Fox Valley Lush went 2:02.1 over the sloppy
track.
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, returned
for live harness racing on Saturday, February 15 and races through Sunday,
September 20. Post time nightly is 7:10
PM. Hawthorne races live during the
summer harness meet every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Fall thoroughbreds close out the year,
running from October 2 through December 26.
For more information, visit www.Hawthorneracecourse.com
or contact Hawthorne at 708-780-3700.