On a night where the juvenile trotters were featured in leg two action for Night of Champions races at Hawthorne, an older mare headlined the Sunday, July 14 card. In the fourth race on the card, five-year-old mare Annas Lucky Star defeated the boys as she got up in the shadow of the wire to catch Pine Dream in a track-record mile.
After rating second to last in the early portion of the race, Annas Lucky Star began her move on the backstretch, following live cover of Got The Groove. Into the lane, Pine Dream had opened up a four-length advantage as Kyle Wilfong guided Annas Lucky Star to the outside and began to move. Closing ground with every stride, Annas Lucky Star caught Pine Dream on the wire, winning by a nose.
Annas Lucky Star stopped the timer in 1:53.4, besting a track record that she previously co-owned with Spiralscruznsarah from 2002 of 1:54.1. The win was the 28th of Annas Lucky Star’s career in her 50th start. Annas Lucky Star is owned by Danny Graham and trained by Nelson Willis.
While the older horses were on the track at Hawthorne for the second-leg Night of Champions events last weekend, the babies were featured this week.
On Friday night (July 12), two-year-old pacing males were the focus in a pair of divisions of the Incredible Finale.
Race three was the first division as a field of six was led by RJ Wulfy as he looked for his fourth-straight win to open his career.
At the start, Ryan Anderson guided RJ Wulfy to the lead as he passed the quarter in :28.1. On the backside, Casey Leonard wasted no time and pulled second-choice Fox Valley Ren from fourth and moved to the front, covering a half in :56.3. Leading the field through the turn after three quarters in 1:27, Fox Valley Ren opened a two-length margin into the stretch. RJ Wulfy made one more move to challenge through the stretch but couldn’t get home in time. Fox Valley Ren covered the mile in 1:55.3. RJ Wulfy held second while Ryans Ambassador finished third.
Fox Valley Ren is owned by Megan Rogers Racing Stables, Inc. and trained by Nelson Willis.
Race four was the second division of the Incredible Finale as a field of six was led by RGs Tracer with Travis Seekman driving.
Sent the favourite, RGs Tracer led the field to a :29 first quarter. Through the backside he maintained his lead while chased by Canadian Mountie through the half in :58.1. After three-quarters in 1:26.4, RGs Tracer opened a clear advantage in the stretch, winning by daylight in 1:55.2. Hello Rooster closed to finish second while Chick Magnet was third.
RGs Tracer is owned by Robert Grismore and Charles Knipp.
Frosh pacing filly were featured on Saturday night in a pair of divisions of the Incredible Tillie.
Race three was the first division as favouritism moved between Fox Valley Vixen, Sleazy Gal and Fox Valley Exploit.
Fox Valley Vixen made the lead as she passed the opening quarter in :29.2. In the backside Sleazy Gal made her surge to the front as she led after a half in :58.3. Into the turn driver Kyle Husted moved Fox Valley Exploit to the front, covering three-quarters in 1:27.4. In the lane Fox Valley Exploit held her lead as Sleazy Gal tried hard to catch her but settled for second in the 1:56 mile. Castielle was third.
Fox Valley Exploit is owned by David Brigham and Kyle Husted and trained by Kyle Husted.
Race seven was the second division of the Incredible Tillie as Double Parked and Travis Seekman looked for her fourth win in a row to open her career.
Double Parked, sent the favourite, led the field to a :29.2 opening quarter. June Dale Gram tracked the leader on the backside through the half in :59.1 and the pair opened some ground on the rest of the field. In the turn Double Parked maintained her advantage, passing three-quarters in 1:27.2. In the stretch driver Ridge Warren guided June Dale Gram out from behind the favuorite and rallied to get up in the shadow of the wire for the upset in 1:55.2. Double Parked held second while Ashlees Fine Girl was third.
June Dale Gram is owned by Carol Graham and trained by JD Lewis.
Four trots took place for the babies on Sunday evening with a pair of divisions of the Fox Valley Flan for fillies and the Kadabra for the boys.
Race two was the first division of the Fox Valley Flan as Lous Abigail was the even-money favourite.
Leaving for the lead was Celone Hall as Brandon Bates guided her to the quarter in :30. On the backside Fox Valley Extacy brushed to the front but led briefly as Celone Hall regained the lead through the half in 1:00.2. Tracked through the turn by Lous Abigail, Celone Hall covered three quarters in 1:30.4 as she headed into the lane. After one last try by Lous Abigail, Celone Hall held her off, winning in 2:00.0. Lous Abigail was second while Lous Flashy Dancer finished third.
Celone Hall is owned in partnership by Darin Tournear, Georgeann Tournear, and trainer Mike Brink.
Race three was the second division of the Fox Valley Flan as Bee See was a heavy favourite with Kyle Husted Driving.
Lauren Hall strolled to the top and led to a :32.1 first quarter. On the backside Kyle Husted angled Bee See wide off the slow pace to take the front approaching a 1:02 half. Passing three-quarters in 1:32.1, Bee See opened up her lead into the stretch. Chased by Lauren Hall through the lane, Bee See held sway, winning in 2:00.4.
Lauren Hall was second while Olympic Hopeful finished third. Bee See is owned in partnership by Baldes, Paloma, Paloma, and trainer Steve Searle.
Race five was the first division of leg two of the Kadabra as Fox Valley Kobe was the 3-5 favourite with Kyle Wilfong driving.
At the start the favourite settled into position as Twin Cedars Rocket was sent to the front through a quarter in :30.4. On the backstretch Wilfong wasted little time heading to the lead as Fox Valley Kobe took over through the half in 1:00.4. Opening a lead in the turn, Fox Valley Kobe covered three quarters in 1:31. In the lane Fox Valley Kobe extended her lead, winning easily while stopping the timer in 2:00.3. Deememorymaker finished second while Fox Valley Briton was third.
Fox Valley Kobe is owned by Phil Langley, Mike Brown, and trainer Jim Eaton.
Race six was the second division of the Kadabra with a field of nine led by Fox Valley Quest and driver Casey Leonard.
Leaving were numerous horses as a trio passed the quarter in :29.1 led by U S Patriot. On the backside Fitchey For Fun moved to the top, covering a half in :59.3. On the turn Fitchey For Fun opened briefly but Desert Sheik made a strong brush to take over through three quarters in 1:30.1. In the lane, Mike Brink got after Desert Sheik as his head start was good enough to hold off the late closing Fox Valley Quest. On Higher Ground finished third. Desert Sheik stopped the clock in 1:58.3.
Desert Sheik is owned by Mark Brown, Charles Biggs, and trainer Mike Brink.
(with files from Hawthorne)