Super Bowl Champion linebacker Devin White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was onsite at Hawthorne Race Course on Sunday evening (June 27) to watch the debut races of a pair of trotters he owns in partnership. Both were competing in leg-one stakes action at Hawthorne over a fast track.
In Race 2 on Sunday, 2-year-old colt First And Goal debuted in leg one of The Kadabra for Illinois-bred trotters. Owned in partnership by Devin White and Adam Hawthorne, First And Goal was guided to the early lead by Casey Leonard through the opening quarter in :31.3. Pushed along by Lous Barbossa through a half in 1:01.4, First And Goal maintained his advantage into the far turn. Opening his lead through three-quarters in 1:32.2, First And Goal drew off to a four-length lead in the stretch. He cruised under the wire, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:01.3.
Trained by Herman Wheeler, First and Goal earned $8,750 in the $17,500 first leg. Romantic Warrior rallied to finish second while Lous Barbossa held third.
In the seventh race on the Sunday card, 2-year-old filly Creations Dream MV made her first start after a pair of impressive qualifiers over the racetrack. The start came in leg one of the Fox Valley Flan for female juvenile trotters.
Sent the favourite with Casey Leonard driving, Creations Dream MV got away in good order and settled in fourth early as Funky Wiggle passed the opening quarter in :31.2. As Funky Wiggle led the field through the half in 1:02.2, the pack tightened up into the turn. Mid-turn, Creations Dream MV was on the move, guided into third by Leonard as Funky Wiggle maintained her advantage through three-quarters in 1:33. In the stretch, Funky Wiggle was too tough, drawing clear to win in 2:00.2 for driver and trainer Curt Grummel. Creations Dream MV put in a solid effort though, rallying to finish second. Lous Monamie finished third. Funky Wiggle is owned by Dr. Patrick Graham
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, races three meets in 2021. The spring thoroughbred meet concluded on April 25. The summer Suburban Downs at Hawthorne harness meet began Friday, May 7 and races every Friday-Sunday until Sept. 26. The fall thoroughbred meet opens Oct. 1 and races through Dec. 26. First post nightly for harness is 7:10 p.m. (CDT). Beginning in June, post time on Sunday night will be 6:30 p.m. (CDT).
(Hawthorne Racecourse)