Hawthorne Race Course hosted the 2024 Illinois Night of Champions on Saturday, Nov. 9 as 12 stakes finals were contested for a total of nearly $2.2 million in purses. Despite some brief afternoon showers, the skies cleared and the track was fast for the Saturday evening card.

Race 1 – Scorecard Dandy Strong In Tony Maurello Final

The night kicked off with aged filly and mare pacers in the $83,333 Tony Maurello final. Making the top was Scorecard Dandy with Kyle Wilfong as she carved out fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:24.1 through the turn. Tracking just behind was Fox Valley Leah (Todd Warren) while Skeeter Machine (Travis Seekman)  ranged up to challenge in the turn.

In the lane, Scorecard Dandy was asked and responded nicely, drawing clear to an easy score in 1:51.2. Bombay Parkway (Casey Leonard) rallied down the centre of the track for second while Fox Valley Leah held on for third.

Owned by Green Acres LLC and Mike Klimas and trained by Greg Kain, Scorecard Dandy won for the 27th time in career start 100.

Race 2 – Louises Legacy Takes Eventful Kadabra Championship

Two-year-old male trotters contested the $184,525 Kadabra Championship with a full field of 10 as Sunburnt Silverado (Leonard) was the even-money favourite. After a break by Lous Beduino (Jordan Ross) before the start, nine were sent away on the gate as Shady Maple Becker (Wyatt Avenatti) left for the lead. He broke stride in the first turn as did Sunburnt Silverado as Allys Got Grit (Anthony MacDonald) inherited the lead through a quarter in :29.

Heading to the half with the lead was Allys Got Grit as One Trip Chip (Kyle Husted) looked to move but broke stride before the half, leaving Allys Got Grit with a four-length advantage into the turn in :59.1. Sunburnt Silverado was back on the move in the turn before a second break, leaving Allys Got Grit leading into the stretch through three-quarters in 1:28.2. Avoiding the chaos was Marcus Miller with Louises Legacy as he stalked the pace before tipping out in the lane and taking over. Louises Legacy was able to draw clear nearing the wire, winning in 1:56.4. Longshot Frontier Macho (Warren) rallied for second followed by another longshot in Call Me Maevey (Seekman), who got up for show.

Louises Legacy is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Geis Enterprise LLC, and trained by Erv Miller.

Race 3 – A Costly Break And A New Track Record

After scratches of Lous Avalon and Lous Night Vision, a field of eight was sent away for the $200,885 Fox Valley Flan final for two-year-old filly trotters. Sent away as the 2-5 choice was What A Legacy for driver Kyle Wilfong.

Into the first turn, second choice Kays In Charge (Seekman) made a break and dropped out to the back as Lous My Number and Casey Leonard took the lead through a quarter in :29.4. Lous My Number held that advantage past the half and into the lane through fractions of 1:00 and 1:29. In the stretch, What A Legacy came to challenge and took over mid-stretch. Just shy of the wire, What A Legacy broke stride as Lous My Number came back for the victory. Off the strong final quarter, Lous My Number set a new track record for two-year-old filly trotters, stopping the clock in 1:56.4. What A Legacy was second while longshot Dandys Princess (Miller) finished third.

Lous My Number is owned in partnership by trainer Steven Searle, Michael Buzzard, Chris Paloma and Michael Paloma.

Race 4 – Marvelous Mystery Strong In Victory

The $111,111 Carl Becker Memorial Championship for aged filly and mare trotters had just a field of four as Marvelous Mystery was the 2-5 favourite.

After the start, driver Marcus Miller decided to send Marvelous Mystery for the lead over Loulita (Leonard) through an opening quarter in :29.2. The two leaders stayed in order as Marvelous Mystery held her advantage through a half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:29.2. In the lane, Miller roused Marvelous Mystery and she responded well, drawing away to win in 1:55.4. Loulita held second while Radiant Diamond (Seeksman) finished third.

Marvelous Mystery is owned by Curt, Craig and Leo Grummel. Curt Grummel handles the training duties.

Race 5 – Hezzz A Wise Sky Does It Again

Aged male pacers lined up with a field of eight in the $83,333 Phil Langley Memorial Championship and both Fox Valley Landen and Hezzz A Wise Sky were sent away at 9-5.

In the opening turn, it was Fox Valley Langley (Miller) who got away quickly and made the lead. Nearing the quarter, Fox Valley Landen (Husted) ranged up to challenge in :28. On the backstretch, driver Kyle Wilfong decided it was time to go with Hezzz A Wise Sky and he took over through a half in :55. Catching a breather into the turn, Hezzz A Wise Sky accelerated into the lane after three-quarters in 1:23.1 and was able to hold sway, winning in 1:50.3. Fox Valley Landen was a game second while Fox Valley Langley held on for third.

Owned by Triple Zzz Stable and trained by John Filomeno, Hezzz A Wise Sky won for the 56th time in 131 career starts, surpassing $885,000 in lifetime earnings.

Race 6 – Gorgeous Big Guy With Another Big Effort

Three-year-old male pacers took to the track in the $215,617 Robert F. Carey Jr. Memorial Championship and Gorgeous Big Guy was a heavy favourite, looking for his 11th career win in 12 starts.

At the start, it was longshot Doctor Cruise (Husted) who was sent for the lead through the quarter in :27.4. Turning onto the backside, driver Marcus Miller sent Gorgeous Big Guy for the lead as he passed the half in :56.3. Into the turn, Guitar Man (Seekman) ranged up to challenge as the duo passed three-quarters in 1:24.2. Into the stretch, Miller roused Gorgeous Big Guy and he responded, drawing clear to win in 1:51.3. Guitar Man held second while Fox Valley Kodiak (Juan Franco) rallied for third.

Gorgeous Big Guy is owned by Douglas Overhiser and Mark Winshup, and trained by Erv Miller.

Race 7 – A ‘Beautiful’ Win

The $311,976 Incredible Tillie Championship for two-year-old fillies had a full field and 1-5 favourite Thebeautifulthings was looking for her eighth victory in nine lifetime starts.

Making the lead early was Wildcat Abby (Leonard) and she was in control through fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25.2. Thebeautifulthings and driver Kyle Husted sat just behind the leader, waiting into the lane to make her move. In the stretch, Thebeautifulthings tipped out to take over and she drew away to win in 1:52.2. Wildcat Abby held second while longshot Fox Valley Showgal (MacDonald) finished third.

Thebeautifulthings is owned by Douglas Overhiser, Husted Racing Stable, John Schwarz Jr. and Mark Winship, and trained by Amy Husted.

Race 8 – ‘Cash’ing In Another Victory

The richest race on the card was the $314,646 Incredible Finale Championship for two-year-old male pacers. Cash Money Twenty was the heavy favourite looking for his 10th win in 11 career starts.

At the start, Battlin Bob (Seekman) cleared and set the early fractions of :28.1 and :57 to the half. As the longshots chasing the pace tired into the turn, Battlin Bob opened up a five-length lead through three-quarters in 1:24.3 while Dialogue (Wilfong) and Cash Money Twenty (Leonard) both tipped three-wide. In the lane, it was the two favourites going on while Cash Money Twenty held off a game Dialogue, winning in 1:52.2. Battlin Bob held on for third.

Cash Money Twenty is owned by Heart & Soul Racing and driver Casey Leonard, and is trained by Mike Brink.

Race 9 – Niko Man Sharp In The Slop

As the rain continued to fall, the track was listed as sloppy for Saturday's ninth race. A field of six aged trotters contested the $83,333 Plesac Championship as Lous Di Nomite was scratched. Favoured was Niko Man for driver Kyle Wilfong.

At the start, it was Lous Lancelot (James Lackey) who made the top in :28.2 as Lousdobb (Leonard) chased the pace. After a half in :57, Lous Lancelot held the lead into the turn while Niko Man was on the move from the back of the pack. After three-quarters in 1:26, Niko Man took over and drew off in the stretch, winning in 1:54.1. Lous Lancelot held on for second while Lousdobb finished third.

Niko Man is owned by Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman, and trained by Ken Rucker. The win was the 20th for Niko Man in 48 career starts.

Race 10 – Fox Valley Tessa Rallies In Time

A full field of three-year-old filly pacers lined up in the $263,474 Plum Peachy Championship and Fox Valley Sadie was sent away as the 2-1 favourite.

At the start, it was Hypeyourbestieup (Seekman) who made the lead in :29.1. On the backstretch, First Of Her Name (Brandon Bates) was keen to go along with Fox Valley Sadie (Husted) as they made the half in :56.1. After three-quarters in 1:24.3, First Of Her Name led the field into the stretch but started to tire. With the field fanning out, Fox Valley Tessa and driver Wyatt Avenatti closed best of all, winning in 1:53.2. Longshot No Words Needed (Wilfong) got up for place while Dandys Ms Swifty (Leonard) closed to finish third.

Fox Valley Tessa is owned by trainer Steven Searle, Brian Code, James Nellinger and Gretchen Barnett.

Race 11 – Tru Cash Benefits From Traffic Trouble For Others

Three-year-old male trotters were next in the $187,144 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship and the field of 10 was led by favoured Jewels For Champ.

Leaving from the outside was Little Chipper as Jared Finn guided him through an opening quarter in :29.1 and half in :58. Pressed by Shady Maple Alstar (Husted) into the turn, Little Chipper maintained his lead through three-quarters in 1:27.2. In the lane, both Shady Maple Alstar and Lous Private Eye (Leonard) looked for racing room behind a tiring and weaving Little Chipper but neither got clear until too late as Kyle Wilfong had clear sailing with Tru Cash down the centre of the lane, winning in 1:56.3. Shady Maple Alstar was second while Lous Private Eye finished third.

Tru Cash is owned by Jerry Graham and Douglas Overhiser, and trained by Erv Miller.

Race 12 – Whiskey Lou Wins Again

The final race on the Night of Champions card was the $152,303 Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship for three-year-old filly trotters. The heavy favourite was Whiskey Lou with Casey Leonard in the bike.

Calypso Moon (Husted) made the lead after the quarter in :30.4. On the backstretch, Fox Valley Tiegen (Miller) took after, passing the half in :59.4. On the turn, the favourite took over and opened up as she passed three-quarters in 1:29.1. In the lane, Whiskey Lou was well clear, winning in 1:56.2. Peekaboo Sal (Avenatti) rallied for second while Fox Valley Tiegen held third.

Whiskey Lou is owned by Randy Wilt and trained by Curt Grummel

(with files from Hawthorne Race Course)