Thursday evening (June 23) at Hawthorne Race Course brought forth warm temps and a fast track, along with the first view of the two-year-old stakes competitors for the summer meet.
Illinois-bred two-year-old filly trotters took to the track in two divisions of Leg 1 of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes, while colt and gelding trotters were featured in the Kadabra Stakes, which also had a pair of divisions.
Kicking off the evening at Hawthorne was the first division of Leg 1 of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes, as a field of seven competed for a $10,000 purse. Sent off as the favourite was Siss Ellie Mae, as she was coming off a second-place finish in her debut against the boys.
Leaving and making the top was the favourite for trainer J D Finn and driver Jared Finn, as she carved out fractions of :31, 1:02.4, and 1:33.2 to three quarters. In the lane, Siss Ellie Mae held sway, winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.1. Lous Game N Match was second, Scarlet Ribbons third.
Owned by James Rine and Charles Doehring, Siss Ellie Mae paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.20. Lous Game N Match returned $4.60 and $3.60 while Scarlet Ribbons paid $2.80 to show.
Race 2 was the first division of Leg 1 of the Kadabra Stakes, with Trixies Jethro sent away as the heavy favourite.
At the start, Fox Valley Khan made the lead while the favourite was hung wide through the opening quarter in :29.3. Onto the backstretch, the 1-5 favourite, Trixies Jethro, assumed command through a half in :59.3. Into the lane in three quarters in 1:30, Trixies Jethro opened a seven length lead. Staying strong, Trixies Jethro won by daylight for driver Jared Finn in 2:00. Louscipher finished second while Bands Houdini was third.
Owned by Charles Doehring and trained by J D Finn, Trixies Jethro returned $2.60, $2.20, and $2.10. Louscipher came back $5.60 and $4.20 while Bands Houdini paid $10.80 to show.
Race 4 on the Thursday card was the second division of the Kadabra Stakes, and Matt Q was sent away as the favourite from the outside for driver Casey Leonard.
After racing wide into the first turn, Swiss Bank took the early lead in :31.3. After a half in 1:04.4, Swiss Bank held the lead. Marching To Zion moved to challenge after three quarters in 1:37 while favoured Matt Q tipped five wide. In the lane, Matt Q cruised by to win by two-and-a-half lengths in 2:06.2. Cassisandfifth finished second while Marching to Zion was third.
Owned by Quaid Racing, LLC and trained by Nelson Willis, Matt Q returned $3.00, 2.20, and $2.40. Cassisandfifth came back $4.80 and $3.20 while Marching to Zion paid $2.20 to show.
Race 6 on the card was the second division of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes with Lous Credit Report sent off as the even money choice.
Leaving quickly was the favourite, but she was hung wide early as Dandys ESP grabbed the lead from the inside through the quarter in :30.1. After the half in 1:01.3, Dandys ESP led through the turn. Moving first over into the stretch was Lous Credit Report, covering three quarters in 1:33.2. At the wire, Lous Credit Report and driver Jamaica Patton held on by a length and a half over Shes Savvy. Dandys ESP was third. The final time was 2:02.1.
Owned by Flacco Family Farms, LLC and trained by Roshun Trigg, Lous Credit Report returned $4.00, $3.40, and $2.60. Shes Savvy came back $10.60 and $4.20 while Dandys ESP returned $2.20 to show.
(Hawthorne Race Course)