A big twelve-race Saturday card at Hawthorne kicked off the start of leg two action for Night of Champions races as two divisions of the Beulah Dygert and Plum Peachy took place.
The Beulah Dygert is for Illinois-bred, three-year-old filly trotters and the Plum Peachy is for the state-bred, three-year-old filly pacers.
Race two on Saturday was the first division of the Beulah Dygert as a field of six trotters faced the starter. Good Design was the favourite off her leg on win with Kyle Wilfong in the bike. A break prior to the start left Shadow Copy well back early as Good Design backed down the pace through three opening quarter in :30. After cruising through the half in :58.3, Good Design lead Trotting Grace and New Queen into the far turn. Through three quarters in 1:27.2, Good Design remained in control and opened up into the lane. Geared down late, Good Design was an easy winner in 1:55.4. Trotting Grace held second while New Queen finished third.
Good Design is owned by Mr. Lynn Wilfong and trained by Brett Wilfong.
Race four was the second division of the Dygert with Maui Mama and Casey Leonard the favourite in the field of six. Getting away for the lead was the favourite as she passed to opening quarter in :29.3. On the backside, White Pants Fever moved to take over through a half in :58.3. After three quarters in 1:27.3, White Pants Fever opened up two lengths into the stretch. Mid-stretch, Maui Mama tipped out and rolled on by, winning in 1:57.3. Sunny Sasha rallied for second while White Pants Fever was third.
Maui Mama is owned by Bill Wright and trained by Mike Brink.
Race eight was the first of two divisions of the Plum Peachy with a field of nine. Fox Valley Jazzy was the favourite in the race with Ridge Warren driving. Making the lead was The New Americana as she was joined by Fox Valley Jazzy through the quarter in :29.1. On the backside, The Sis Master was hustled to the front, covering the half in :57.1. On the turn, The Sis Master held her lead as Fox Valley Jazzy pressured through three quarters in 1:26. In the lane The Sis Master was all out, looking to hold off Fox Valley Jazzy as she was able to do so in 1:53.4. Fox Valley Jazzy was second while The New Americana was third. The Sis Master is owned by Bet-Mor Stable and trained and driven by Michele Morgan.
Race ten was the second division of the Plum Peachy with Rollin Coal and Allbeastnobeauty battling for favouritism at post time. Getting away quickly was Rollin Coal and Casey Leonard as they were pressured through a quarter in :28.2. After a half in :57.1, Rollin Coal led Frontier Cuzin into the turn. Passing three quarters in 1:25.3, Rollin Coal was up by two lengths into the lane. Mid-stretch, Skeeter Machine and Kyle Wilfong tipped out and challenged the leader, closing alongside her late in the stretch. At the wire Skeeter Machine emerged on top by a head over Rollin Coal. Frontier Cuzin held third. The final time for the mile was 1:54.1.
Skeeter Machine is owned by Francis and James Greer and trained by Alan Bowen.
(Hawthorne Race Course)