On a beautiful Friday (June 24) evening at Hawthorne Race Course, four divisions of leg one of the Incredible Tillie Stakes took place. The Incredible Tillie is for Illinois-bred two-year-old pacing fillies.
The card kicked off with the first division as a field of nine lined up behind the starting car. Princess Sage was sent away as the favourite off a debut victory and near miss in her second start.
Princess Sage left for the lead and cleared during the :29.2 first quarter for driver Freddie Patton Jr. Following a half in :58.4, Princess Sage held firm on the front end. She led into the lane after three-quarters in 1:28.1, but was challenged by Sheadealer. Late stretch, Princess Sage dug in gamely and prevailed by a quarter of a length. Sheadealer was second and Dandys Dududidudu finished third. The final time for the mile was 1:56.4.
Owned by Keli Jo Bell and trainer Freddie Patton Jr., Princess Sage returned $3.60, $2.60, and $2.40 as the 4-5 favourite. Sheadealer paid $8.80 and $4.00 while Dandys Dududidudu returned $3.00 to show.
Race three on Friday night was the second division in the Incredible Tillie and Lili Von Shtupp was a late scratch.
Moving early in the second division was the 1-5 favourite Filly Forty and Jamaica Patton through the opening quarter in :29.4 and half in 1:00.4. Filly Forty led the field into the lane past three-quarters in 1:30.3 and was all out. Mid-stretch, Kyle Husted and Razzleme Dazzleme tipped out for the drive and wore down Filly Forty on the wire. Razzleme Dazzleme prevailed by a length and a quarter over Filly Forty in 1:58.4. My Kind of Dance finished third.
Owned by Derek and Amy Jacobus and trained by Nick Prather, Razzleme Dazzleme returned $11.60, $3.00, and $2.60. Filly Forty came back $2.10 and $2.10 while My Kind Of Dance paid $3.00 to show.
Race five on Friday was the third division in the Incredible Tillie with a full field of 10 to line up. Hope Hotspur was sent away as the heavy favourite at 1-2.
Do You Dare left for the lead through the quarter in :30, but favourite Hope Hotspur and Casey Leonard moved early to take over and fronted the field through a half in 1:00.4. On the turn, Pinstripe Pants moved to challenge and take command, covering three-quarters in 1:29.4. Pinstripe Pants led in the lane, but Hope Hotspur came back to lead late before Dale Hiteman and Fox Valley Dandy exploded onto the scene, winning at 27-1. Hope Hotspur was second and Fox Valley Maya finished third. The final time was 1:58.1.
Owned by Hugh Lake and Susan Lacey and trained by Ray Hanna, Fox Valley Dandy returned $57.00, $11.60, and $4.20. Hope Hotspur returned $2.60 and $2.20. Fox Valley Maya came back $3.20 to show.
The final division of the Incredible Tillie had a field of nine lined up and Jump Right Up was sent away as the 1-5 choice.
My Mona Me got away quickly and led through the quarter in :29.4. Moving to the lead early was Da Blue Jay as she led the field into the turn after a half in 1:00. On the far turn, Jump Right Up and Todd Warren made their move to challenge through three-quarters in 1:29. Leading late, Jump Right Up won by two and a half lengths, stopping the clock in 1:58. My Mona Me was second while Rockin Ashley got up for third.
Owned by Quaid Racing LLC and Cynthia Kay Willis and trained by Nelson Willis, Jump Right Up returned $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10. My Mona Me paid $6.40 and $3.40 while Rockin Ashley paid $4.20 to show.
(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)