For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Miller (708) 780-3700
JimMiller@ClubHawthorne.com
Wilfong Braves
Conditions for Big Hawthorne Weekend
STICKNEY, IL – Mother Nature has not been kind to those
participating in the winter harness meet at Hawthorne as every racing card has
been contested in below freezing temperatures.
This weekend she seemed to kick things up another notch as 40+ MPH winds
were a part of the Friday night card while Saturday faced wind chills
approaching zero. While the conditions
were very tough on all involved, they haven’t seemed to stop driver Kyle
Wilfong as he has had an excellent past two nights.
A blustery Friday card kicked off as Wilfong guided Mckee Creek (1:56.4) to a neck score as the favorite in the
opener for trainer Nick Prather. Wilfong
rounded out the early double as favored Velocity Gator (1:55.4) won by daylight
in the second for trainer Steve Searle.
In the third race, Wilfong won for his third different trainer, this
time for Jim Eaton as favored Bet Mine (1:55.3) held on to win by a neck. Wilfong wasn’t driving the favorite in the
fourth race, instead it was third longest choice Carlos Mittanna
(1:55.0) who rallied late for the win for trainer Hector Herrera.
Taking down the early pick four was a feat for Wilfong as he
finished third in race five, driving Rollinwitdaponyzzz
for trainer John Filomeno. Filomeno wasn’t to
be left out of the Wilfong winner’s circle celebrations though as the two were
back there in race six as He’zzz A
Wise Sky (1:52.4) took the night’s open pace.
That win with the fifth open victory of the meet in as many starts for
the talented Filomeno homebred. After Rock Jagger
finished fifth for Wilfong in the seventh, Perseus Seelster
battled to a solid second-place performance for Wilfong’s fiancée, trainer
Nicole Agosti, in race eight. In the final event of the night, Wilfong won
for his sixth different trainer on the card, as Ponda’s
Prospect (1:56.3) scored for trainer Dennis Brightwell.
Wilfong was able to keep the hot hand going on Saturday, and
maybe build some funds for the honeymoon, as he took a pair of the night’s
biggest pots for horses trained by his fiancée.
In the Winter Wonderland Series Final, Wilfong guided home 6-1 shot
Feeling Like a Ten (1:54.3) for Agosti to take the
$22,000 co-featured event of the evening.
Two races later the duo found themselves getting their picture taken
once again, this time with It’s Time For Fun (1:53.3),
who scored in the open pace.
The eight victories between Friday and Saturday night vaulted
Wilfong to the top of the Hawthorne driver standings with 34 wins on the
meet. He is two ahead of Mike Oosting and six in front of Casey Leonard with one month to
go in the winter meet.
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s
Hometown Track, races year-round in 2022. The winter harness season began
Friday, January 7 and races through Sunday, March 20. Spring thoroughbreds kick
off Saturday, April 2 and conclude Saturday, June 25. The summer harness season
begins on Thursday, June 30 and races through Sunday, September 11. Fall
thoroughbreds return Friday, September 23 and race though Saturday, December 31. For any information about
Hawthorne Race Course visit our website
www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.
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