A 14-race Sunday card at Hawthorne featured three divisions of leg three of the Incredible Finale Stakes. The Incredible Finale is for Illinois-bred two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
A storm prior to the races left the track sloppy to open the card as race three was the first division of the Incredible Finale. Gabe Henry was favoured at post time.
Fox Valley Sparty moved to the lead early through the quarter in :29. Sork then moved on the backside to take over for driver Kyle Husted through a half in :57.4. On the turn, Sork was challenged again by Fox Valley Sparty through three-quarters in 1:27.4. In the stretch, Fox Valley Sparty and Dale Hiteman were challenged by Gabe Henry and Todd Warren and Gabe Henry went on to a length and a half score. Fox Valley Jeter closed late for second while Fox Valley Sparty finished third. The final time for the mile over the sloppy going was 1:57.1.
Owned by Carol Graham and trained by Thomas Graham, Gabe Henry returned $3.60, $2.40, and $2.20. Fox Valley Jeter paid $3.20 and $2.20 while Fox Valley Sparty paid $3.00 to show.
The second division of leg three of the Incredible Finale had Sporty Redhot as the heavy post time favourite for driver Todd Warren.
Sporty Redhot was sent for the lead, but Spirited Encounter beat him to the top through the quarter in :29.1. On the backside, Spirited Encounter maintained his lead through the half in :58. On the turn, Sporty Redhot ranged up to challenge through three-quarters in 1:27. In the stretch, Sporty Redhot gained the lead, but had to hold off the move of multiple horses and did just that to win by a length. Fox Valley Reggie finished second while Fox Valley Inferno was third. The final time for the mile was 1:56.4.
Owned by Alan Beals and trained by Kim Roth, Sporty Redhot remained undefeated from three lifetime starts and returned $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10. Fox Valley Reggie paid $16.60 and $6.60 while Fox Valley Inferno returned $2.40 to show.
Race seven was the third division of the Incredible Finale and the track was upgraded to 'good.' Sullivan took the wagering action and was sent off as the favourite.
Uptown Sleaze made the lead early while pressed by Fox Valley Nemitz through the quarter in :29.2. On the backstretch, Fox Valley Nemitz was pushed by Sullivan through the half in :59.1. In the turn, Casey Leonard and Sullivan assumed command, covering three-quarters in 1:27.4. In the lane, Sullivan was all out, but Fox Valley Nemitz and Dale Hiteman came back to catch him nearing the wire. Uptown Sleaze held third. The final time for the mile was 1:57.3.
Owned by Fox Valley Standardbreds and trained by Joel Smith, Fox Valley Nemitz paid $9.60, $3.00, and $2.20. Sullivan returned $3.20 and $2.60 while Uptown Sleaze paid $2.40 to show.
(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)