Illinois Juvenile Trotters Battle Again
Illinois-bred juvenile trotters were featured on Sunday night (July 23) at Hawthorne. Two-year-old filly trotters took to the track in two $12,000 divisions of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes while 11 juvenile colts and geldings were featured in leg two of the Kadabra Stakes.
Race two on the Sunday evening card was the first division of the Fox Valley Flan with a field of seven lining up. Trotting Grace was the favourite with Kyle Husted driving. At the start, E L Miss Kaibra took control, setting slow early fractions of :31.4 and 1:03.3 to the half. In the turn, Husted moved with Trotting Grace and quickly took over and opened up. After three-quarters in 1:33, Trotting Grace had gained a five-length advantage into the stretch and won well clear. The final time for the mile was 2:01.1. E L Miss Kaibra held second while Lous Silver Star finished third. Trotting Grace is owned by Bill Wright, Mystical Maker Farms LLC, and Steve Searle, and trained by Steve Searle.
Race five was the second division of the Fox Valley Flan with a field of eight. Sunny Sasha left for the lead and she made the quarter in :30.1. On the backside, Sunny Sasha led the field through the half in 1:00.4. On the turn, Good Design and driver Kyle Wilfong moved to challenge through three-quarters in 1:31.4. In the lane, Good Design maintained her lead and drew clear, winning by four lengths. Longshot Frontier Jackie rallied to finish second while Maui Mama was third. The final time for the mile was 2:00.3. Good Design is owned by Lynn Wilfong and trained by Brett Wilfong.
Race seven featured the Illinois-bred juvenile colts and geldings on the track as a field of 11 contested leg two of the Kadabra Stakes. True Detective was the favourite with Casey Leonard driving. The favourite made the lead early after numerous horses broke stride and he cruised through the opening quarter in :30.4. On the backside, True Detective held his lead, passing the half in 1:02. After the comfortable second quarter, True Detective felt some pressure from Vics Pizza in the turn. After three-quarters in 1:32.1, Leonard roused True Detective and he responded, opening up and drawing clear late to win going away. Vics Pizza held second while Fox Valley Strpwr finished third. The final time for the mile was 2:00.3. True Detective is owned by Dr. Patrick Graham and trained by Curt Grummel.
(With files from Hawthorne)