After an action packed Friday card that saw eight races with implications for next week’s Night of Champions at Hawthorne, eight more races on Saturday were contested to help shape next week’s big card.
The evening began with leg four action in the Beulah Dygert Memorial trot for Illinois-bred, three-year-old fillies as a field of nine lined up to contest the action.
Trotting Grace was sent away as the heavy favourite with Kyle Husted driving. Leaving for the lead was White Pants Fever as Trotting Grace tucked in just behind through the quarter in :29.2. On the backstretch, Trotting Grace took over from White Pants Fever as the Searle trained duo passed the half one-two in :59.2. On the turn, Trotting Grace remained in command, passing three quarters in 1:28.3. In the lane, White Pants Fever tired as Trotting Grace faced a fresh challenge from New Queen. On the wire, Trotting Grace held on by a half-length over New Queen. Maui Mama got up for third. The final time for the mile was 1:57.
Trotting Grace is owned in partnership by Bill Wright, Mystical Marker Farms LLC and trainer Steve Searle.
Race three was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Plum Peachy for Illinois-bred, three-year-old filly pacers. A field of eight contested the race as Allbeastnobeauty was sent away favoured.
Leaving for the lead was The New Americana as Kyle Husted guided her through the opening quarter in :28.2. Chased by JBs Shooting Star, The New Americana passed the half in :57. Cruising along through three quarters in 1:24.3, The New Americana went unchallenged through the wire, winning in 1:52.4. JBs Shooting Star finished second while Allbeastnobeauty was third.
The New Americana is owned by Dave Falzone, James Molitor and Steven Leita and trained by Harold Herrera.
Race four was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Kadabra Stakes for Illinois-bred, two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
The field of six saw Foxvalleysrushhour go off as the favourite with Juan Franco driving. Making the lead was Fox Valley Cruise with Kyle Husted driving as they passed the quarter in :30. On the backside, For Trots Sakes ranged up to challenge, through a half in :59.1. The challenge did not last for long though as Fox Valley Cruise regained the lead on the turn, covering three quarters in 1:29.4. In the stretch, Foxvalleysrushhour tipped out to challenge but the move was too late as Fox Valley Cruise held on. For Trots Sakes finished third. The final time for the mile was 1:59.4.
Fox Valley Cruise is owned by Phil Langley, John Schwarz, Jr., and trainer Jim Eaton.
Race five was the first of two divisions of leg four of the Incredible Finale with a field of six, led by Maximus and driver Kyle Wilfong. Getting away quickly was Cooter Luke, but Maximus moved up from the outside to challenge through the quarter in :28.4. After a half in :59.3, Maximus was pushed into the turn by Fox Valley Julius. The duo passed three quarters in 1:28.3 as Fox Valley Julius put his head in front turning into the lane. After a long stretch drive, Maximus dug in and battled back, winning over Fox Valley Julius in 1:56. Riley The Mooss finished third.
Maximus is owned by The Panhellenic Stable Corporation and Ken Rucker and trained by Kim Roth.
Race six on Saturday was the second division of the Kadabra with Louscardamon favoured for driver Mike Oosting. Shortly after the start Louscardamon broke stride and dropped to the back of the pack as Trixies Turbo inherited the lead in :30.1. On the backstretch, Trixies Turbo cruised along as second-choice Fox Valley Picaso also broke stride. Passing the half in 1:00.3 and three quarters in 1:30.2, Trixies Turbo led the field into the lane through the easy fractions. A clear winner at the wire, Trixies Turbo rolled home in 1:59.3. 85-1 shot Frontier Manard got up for second while Big Garcia Vega finished third.
Trixies Turbo is owned by Charles Doehring and is trained by Jared Finn.
Race eight was the second division of leg four of the Incredible Finale with seven horses led by the duo of The Bucket, with Casey Leonard driving and Meyer On Fire, driven by Mike Oosting.
At the start, it was longshot Coming Up who was able to grab the lead, backing the pace down through an opening quarter in :30.3. Chased by Meyer On Fire through a slow half in 1:00.2, Coming Up maintained his advantage into the turn. After three quarters in 1:29.1, Coming Up and Ridge Warren led the field into the lane as Meyer On Fire tipped out and The Bucket began to move from the back of the back. Late in the lane Meyer On Fire took over, winning in 1:56.3. Coming Up was game, holding on for second while The Bucket finished third.
Meyer On Fire is owned by Engel Stable of Illinois LLC and is trained by Erv Miller.
Race nine was the second division of the Plum Peachy as the field of eight was led by favoured Fox Valley Jazzy, driven by Ridge Warren. Leaving for the lead was Rollin Coal, as she passed the quarter in :28 and half in :58. Chased by Fox Valley Jazzy into the turn, Rollin Coal kept her advantage, covering three quarters in 1:26.2. Into the lane, Rollin Coal was challenged by Party Belle and Travis Seekman, while Fox Valley Jazzy altered course to the outside. At the wire, Party Belle got up in time, winning in 1:54.2. Fox Valley Jazzy finished second while Skeeter Machine was third.
Party Belle is owned by Ladavie Spann, along with trainer Tyler George.
Race ten was the elimination for the Tony Maurello for Illinois-bred aged filly and mare pacers. The top eight qualify for the final as Fox Valley Charm was the favourite with Mike Oosting in the bike. Getting away quickly was the favourite as she carved out the early fractions of :28.2 and :58 for the half. After three quarters in 1:25.4, Fox Valley Charm turned into the lane with a brief lead as a wall of challengers lined up behind her. Rallying late in the stretch to take over was Fancy Creek Jolene and Robert Smolin as she got up in the shadow of the wire for the victory. Char N Marg closed to finish second while Fox Valley Charm held on for third. The final time for the mile was 1:52.4.
Fancy Creek Jolene is owned by Michael Wolf and Set The Pace Racing LLC and trained by Kim Hamilton.
(Hawthorne Park)