The second race on Friday (May 19) at Hawthorne Race Course was the second leg of the Daryl Busse Series for three-year-old trotters with a competitive field of seven.

Dr Spengler took early action and was sent away as the favourite for driver Kyle Wilfong. At the start, Picky Picky Valor headed for the lead and covered the quarter in :32. Early on the backstretch, favoured Dr Spengler moved to contend while hung wide through a half in 1:01. Into the turn, Dr Spengler broke stride, leaving Picky Picky Valor back on the lead through three-quarters in 1:30.4. In the lane, Bands Houdini and Kyle Husted tipped out and took over as Picky Picky Valor broke stride. Bands Houdini was the easy winner in 2:00.2 over late-closing Totally Pazzazzed. Southern Stargazer finished third. Bands Houdini is trained by Steve Searle and owned in partnership by Searle and Flacco Family Farms LLC.

Race three on Friday was the second leg of the Bea Farber Series for trotters with a field of eight. Energy Bar took late action and was sent away as the favourite from the inside draw. Hatfield and Mccoy left quickly from the outside, but BCs Da Winner made the lead, covering the quarter in :29. BCs Da Winner maintained his lead through the half in :59.1. On the turn, Energy Bar moved to challenge through three-quarters in 1:28.4. In the lane, BCs Da Winner battled on, but I Could Care Less and trainer/driver/owner Keith Crawford rolled up in the center of the track and cruised on by to a victory in 1:58.4. Energy Bar got up for second while BC’s Da Winner held on for third.

Race four featured Open pacers with a field of eight vying for a $15,000 purse. Evergreen Elite was the favourite from the barn of trainer Ken Rucker. Yankee Bounty left for the lead, but Evergreen Elite rushed away to the front through the quarter in :27.2. On the backside, Account Rollover moved to challenge through a snappy half in :55.3. Evergreen Elite fought back on the turn and led the field into the lane in 1:24. In the stretch, Evergreen Elite and Mike Oosting battled on, drawing clear to win in 1:53. Yankee Bounty finished second while Im An Athlete closed for third. The winner is owned by The Panhellenic Stable Corp.

(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)