Saturday evening at Hawthorne will be the culmination of a great season of racing at Hawthorne as the summer harness meet comes to a close this weekend. The best in the state of Illinois will be in the limelight as over $1.4 million in purses will be offered on the Night of Champions card. The 12-race card kicks off at 7:10 p.m. on Saturday with open pacers and will be followed by 11 stakes finals, all for Illinois-bred horses. A look at the top contenders in each race:

Race 2 - $115,000 Kadabra Championship

Two-year-old colt and gelding trotters are featured in the Kadabra with a full field of ten. True Detective could be the likely favourite as he has won five of eight races, but has also had issues staying on stride in recent races. Owned by Dr. Patrick Graham and trained by Curt Grummel, he won leg three of this event but went off stride into the lane in leg four. Cruzen Cassi has been consistent, finding the board in nine of 11 races on the year. Owned by James Rine and Charles Doehring, he is trained and will be driven by J.D. Finn in this final. The sleeper could be Illinimight for trainer and driver Mike Brink. Close in recent races, Illinimight pulled off the upset at 15-1 last week in leg four of the Kadabra. He draws inside for owner Kevin Miller and could repeat that performance.

Race 3 - $135,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship

Two-year-old filly trotters will line up in the Fox Valley Flan as trainer Mike Brink is back with another top contender. The Brink trainee in the Fox Valley Flan is Maui Mama for owner Bill Wright. Maui Mama has done just about everything right this year, winning seven of eight starts. The meet’s leading driver, Casey Leonard gets the call once again in the final. Maui Mama isn’t owner Bill Wright’s only shot in this race as he also owns a portion of Trotting Grace, along with Mystical Marker Farms LLC and trainer Steve Searle. Trotting Grace has also been very good this year winning five of her nine starts.

Race 4 - $175,000 Incredible Tillie Championship

Two-year-old filly pacers come together in the Incredible Tillie final as a trio all enter this spot with similar credentials. Drawing the inside is The New Americana for owners Chris Mroz, Dave Falzone, and Jim Molitor and trainer Steve Searle. The New Americana has won six of ten starts on the year, including a victory in leg four of the Incredible Tillie last week. Rollin Coal poses a threat for owner and trainer Hosea Williams as she has found the board in 10 of 11 races this season. Fox Valley Jazzy has won seven of 12 starts in 2017, including defeating The New Americana and Rollin Coal in leg three of the Incredible Tillie. Owned by Cathy Finn-Kanitz and trained by Dale Kanitz, regular driver Ridge Warren will be back in the bike again on Saturday.

Race 5 - $120,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship

Three-year-old filly trotters are featured in the Beulah Dygert Memorial trot as a star at two has continued her form into her three-year-old season. That filly is Annas Lucky Star for owner Danny Graham and trainer Terry Winemiller. After an undefeated two-year-old season in six starts, Annas Lucky Star has won eight of 10 this year. While Annas Lucky Star will be a heavy favourite on Saturday, Lous Game N Match can’t be dismissed for what she has accomplished this year. Owned and trained by Steven Renard, Lous Game N Match has won 18 times on the year from 34 starts.

Race 6 - $115,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship

Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters are featured in the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Trot. Owners Flacco Family Farms LLC and trainer Roshun Trigg send out favourite Louscipher. A winner of 16 of 31 starts on her career, Louscipher enters this final on a four-race win streak, including a lifetime mark of 1:55.1 over this track last week. Casey Leonard drives Louscipher once again in the final. Picky Picky Valor may have the best chance to pull off the upset as he has chased Louscipher home in each of his last three races. Owned by Shelley Steele for trainer Gerald Hansen, Picky Picky Valor defeated Louscipher in Springfield but will have to overcome the outside post draw on Saturday.

Race 7 - $60,000 Plesac Championship

Aged trotters battle in the Plesac Championship as Tricky Nick leads the way for trainer Richard Perfido. Racing mainly at the Meadows this summer, Tricky Nick came to Hawthorne last week for the Plesac preview and didn’t disappoint. Driven by Jim Pantaleano for owner Thomas Mattingly, Tricky Nick was dominant in victory, winning in 1:55.1 over this strip last Saturday. Eight-year-old mare Ants Iner Pants takes on the boys once again as she poses a big threat in this final. Owned by Thomas Wisniewski and trainer Steve Searle, Ants Iner Pants will surpass $300,000 in career earnings in this final. A good second to Tricky Nick last weekend, she draws well in the final and could be poised to pull off the upset.

Race 8 - $195,000 Incredible Finale Championship

The richest race of the Night of Champions card is for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers in the Incredible Finale final. A dominant force for the juvenile pacers looks to continue his winning ways as Fox Valley Gemini will be a heavy favourite. Owned by Jim Ballinger and trained by Terry Leonard, Fox Valley Gemini enters this final perfect in eight career starts. He has won each leg of this series as regular driver Casey Leonard will be back in the bike. Fox Valley Hijinx draws the rail as he looks to upset for owner David Brigham and driver-trainer Kyle Husted. Fox Valley Hijinx enters this race off a win in the division opposite of Fox Valley Gemini last week and could take advantage of the post on Saturday.

Race 9 - $60,000 Robert S. Molaro Championship

Aged pacers meet up in the Robert S. Molaro final as many of these faced each other in last week’s preview. The winner of that race was Evergreen Elite for trainer Ken Rucker. Racing mainly at Hoosier Park during the summer, Evergreen Elite came into Hawthorne last week and was victorious for driver Mike Oosting. Starting immediately next to Evergreen Elite is Crankin It Up for owner Richard Anthony Briskey and trainer Norm Parker. A six-time winner on the year, Crankin It Up has hit the board in 17 of 27 races this year.

Race 10 - $180,000 Robert F. Carey Memorial Championship

Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers match up in the Carey Memorial final in a wide-open race. The leg four winner, Fox Valley Herbie figures to take a good amount of action at the windows for owner Benita Simmons and trainer Tom Simmons. A four-time winner this year, Fox Valley Herbie has hit the board in 12 of 16 races in 2017. Sporty Redhot could be a threat for owner Allan Beals and trainer Kim Roth. A three-time winner on the year, he has hit the board in nine of 15 races as Juan Franco gets the return drive.

Race 11 - $165,000 Plum Peachy Championship

Three-year-old filly pacers are the focus in the Plum Peachy Final in another very competitive race. Fancy Creek Jolene is the likely favourite for owner Frank Marcolini and trainer Kim Hamilton. A five-time winner this year, Fancy Creek Jolene has a strong late closing kick and looks to get a very fast pace ahead of her. One with speed is two-year-old champ Princess Sage for owners Keli Jo Bell and trainer Freddie Patton, Jr. A winner of eight of 11 as a two-year-old, she has won three times this year, entering this race off a close third-place effort in leg four action. Boogie On Down draws the inside as she has speed for owners Mr. Lynn & Barbara Wilfong along with Brett and Candice Wilfong as Brett Wilfong trains. After a pair of dominant efforts in Springfield, Boogie On Down finished a good third in one of the leg four divisions of the Plum Peachy last week.

Race 12 - $60,000 Tony Maurello Championship

Aged filly and mare pacers close out the Night of Champions card in the Tony Maurello final. Bucklegirl Bobette draws the outside off a victory in the preview last week for trainer Robert Walker and driver Kyle Wilfong. A winner of 11 of 25 starts on her career, Bucklegirl Bobette would surpass $100,000 in career earnings with a victory or second-place effort in the Maurello. Joyful Game shipped in from the East coast last week for the preview and may have used that race to get a trip over the track. Owned by Rick Dane, Jr., Joyful Game looks for career win number 25 in the Maurello.

(Hawthorne)