The rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the fans at Hawthorne on Friday night (July 20) as a combination of stakes action and exotic animal races filled the evening.
The stakes focus of the evening was a pair of divisions for leg two of the Incredible Tillie Stakes. The Incredible Tillie is for Illinois-bred, two-year-old pacing fillies as each division had a field of seven.
Race one was the first division and Fox Valley Halsey was the favourite with leading driver Casey Leonard in the bike. Yankee Joanie and Ryan Anderson established the lead in front of the favourite through the quarter in :29.3 over a 'good' track. After passing the half in :59 and three-quarters in 1:28.2, Yankee Joanie led the field into the stretch. Fox Valley Halsey was asked to go after the leader, but she made a break into the lane leaving Perch and Kyle Wilfong to take up the chase. Perch tipped out mid-stretch and was able to catch Yankee Joanie in the shadow of the wire, winning in 1:58.2. Fox Valley Halsey recovered from the break to finish third. Perch is trained by Jay Garrels.
A camel race was contested after race as drivers Casey Leonard, Juan Franco, and Richard S. Finn were joined by Olivia Goethals of Agency 360. A quick start for Leonard was good enough as he guided his steed to victory. Juan Franco was a close second followed by Goethals and Finn.
The juvenile pacers were back at it in race three and Brienne The Beauty was the 3-5 favourite with Travis Seekman driving. Fox Valley Lil Kim made the early lead as she passed the opening quarter in :29.3 with Brienne The Beauty quickly joining her. The favourite took over through a half in :59.1 as Fox Valley Lil Kim chased her into the turn. After three-quarters in 1:28.1, Brienne The Beauty remained in command and drew clear at the wire, winning in 1:56.2. Fox Valley Lil Kim came back for second while Foolishlittlegirl was third. Brienne The Beauty is owned in partnership by Anthony Somone, David McCaffrey, Joseph McCaffrey and trainer Clark Fairley.
(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)