The richest night Hawthorne Race Course’s meet will take place this Saturday night (September 10), as 11 finals will be contested during the ‘Night of Champions.’ The 12-race card will kicks off with an Open pace at 7:00 p.m., followed by the stakes action.
Kadabra Championship
Two-year-old colt and gelding trotters will kick off the stakes evening. Favoured at 5-2 on the morning line is Trixies Jethro from the barn of trainer J D Finn. A winner of seven of 10 starts on the year, Trixies Jethro has raced strongly in races at Hawthorne along with the top stakes on the state fair circuit. His biggest competition in the Kadabra comes from a pair of Leg 4 winners from the barn of Roshun Trigg. Jamaica Patton will drive 5-1 shot Lougazi, who is riding a three-race win streak into the final, while Pat Curtin will guide 9-2 co-second choice Louscipher. Louscipher enters the final off a three-quarter length triumph over Trixies Jethro in leg four.
Fox Valley Flan Championship
Two-year-old filly trotters are featured in the Fox Valley Flan Championship. Trainer Roshun Trigg will be featured prominently once again, this time with Lous Credit Report. A winner of five of eight races this season, Lous Credit Report enters the final off a nearly five-length win in Leg 4. Jamaica Patton will drive the 7-5 morning line favorite on Saturday. The second choice in the Fox Valley Flan at 5-1 is Fox Valley Elana from the barn of Dane May. Although winless on the year, Fox Valley Elana has finished second in three consecutive races entering the final.
Incredible Tillie Championship
Two-year-old filly pacers will take to the track in the Incredible Tillie final. Favoured at 2-1 on the morning line is My Kind Of Dance for trainer Alex Adam and the meet’s leading driver, Casey Leonard. A winner of five consecutive races entering the final, My Kind of Dance enters off a nose triumph in Leg 4. The close second choice at 3-1 is Razzleme Dazzleme for trainer Nick Prather. After having posted top three finishes in all of her eight races, Razzleme Dazzleme also enters the final off a strong Leg 4 win.
Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship
Three-year-old filly trotters will hook up in the Beulah Dygert Memorial. Vengeful enters as the 6-5 morning line choice for trainer Kenny Collier and driver Todd Warren. An impressive winner in each of her last two Hawthorne races, Vengeful will have to find position from the outside Post 9 and look to close in the lane. At 5-1, Roma Falls will be closing strongly in the lane as she enters the final in her best for of the year. Matt Krueger drives for trainer Ray Hanna.
Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship
Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters will take to the track in the Erwin F. Dygert final, as the race could line up to be a two-horse affair. The morning line choice at 8-5 from the barn of trainer Mike Brink is Hail Caesar, with Casey Leonard driving. A winner of six of 12 races this year, Hail Caesar has won three in a row at Hawthorne, including a game score from the nine hole in his last. He has drawn the same post again for Saturday. The second choice at 2-1 on the morning line is Fear for trainer Kenny Collier. A winner early in the Hawthorne season, Fear returned to form in his most recent race, where he closed from the far outside to finish second behind Hail Caesar last week.
Plesac Championship
Aged trotters will line up in the Plesac, as trainer Mike Brink will send out another favourite, this time in Rock Hollywood. Very consistent entering the final, Rock Hollywood is approaching $300,000 in career earnings. Casey Leonard will perform the driving duties. Just to Rock Hollywood’s inside is Tricky Nick, as he will make his second Hawthorne start. Racing mainly at the Meadows entering the final, Tricky Nick has drawn the rail with Jim Pantaleano driving.
Incredible Finale Championship
Two-year-old colt and gelding pacers will take to the track for an extremely competitive Incredible Finale finale. With winners of the legs changing numerous times leading up the final, the most consistent of the bunch, and 3-1 morning line choice, is Gabe Henry. With six wins from eight starts on the year, Gabe Henry has been very versatile for trainer Thomas Graham Jr. and driver Todd Warren. The 7-2 second-choice is Fox Valley Nemitz for trainer Joel Smith. A winner in his last two legs leading up to this final, Fox Valley Nemitz has won five of seven races in 2016, including his last four at Hawthorne.
Robert S. Molaro Championship
Aged pacers will face off in the Molaro, as Unlocked is the heavy 8-5 favourite for trainer Norm Parker and driver Jim Pantaleano. With nearly $500,000 in career earnings, and eight victories on the year, Unlocked was strong in the Molaro prep last week, as he controlled the pace and was never challenged late. The 2-1 second-choice is A Cool Card, as he will return to Hawthorne for trainer Joe Cirasuola. Third to Unlocked last week, A Cool Card has been racing primarily in Indiana in 2016, winning eight times on the year. Todd Warren gets the return drive.
Robert F. Carey Memorial
Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers will battle in the Carey Memorial, as Dan D Dune leads the field as the 2-1 choice. Racing for trainer Nelson Willis and driver Casey Leonard, Dan D Dune has one win on the year, coming in Leg 3 action on July 30. Dan D Dune finished second last week in the Carey prep, behind Dr Drake Ramoray, who has drawn the outside Saturday. IYQ YQR has had a strong 2016 campaign, as he has won five times and has found the board in nine of his 12 starts. Ronnie Roberts trains as Miike Oosting drives IYQ YQR.
Plum Peachy Championship
Three-year-old filly pacers will match up in the Plum Peachy, as Char N Marg is the 2-1 morning line choice. Trained by Nelson Willis and driven by Casey Leonard, Char N Marg has won seven of 13 starts on the year, but will enter the final off three consecutive defeats. Char N Marg was caught last week by LKs Nancy Lee, who closed from the far outside in that spot, but has drawn the rail for Saturday. LKs Nancy Lee enters the final off a pair of upset scores. Pat Curtin will drive once again on Saturday for trainer Joel Smith. Whiskersonkittens races for trainer Kim Roth and driver Todd Warren, and she will be in search of her sixth win of the season. She was a two-length winner of Leg 3 of the Plum Peachy and is the 5-2 second choice on Saturday.
Tony Maurello Championship
Aged fillies and mares will close out the stakes-packed card in the Tony Maurello final. Southern Girl has drawn Post 5 and has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite for trainer Homer Hochstetler and driver Kyle Wilfong. A winner of eight of 18 on the year, Southern Girl made her first Hawthorne start a winning one last week in the prep. A close 3-1 second-choice is Ryleighs Lilly for trainer William Chrone and driver Casey Leonard. Her most recent race was her first victory on the year, but she enters this final finding the board in seven of 10 starts in 2016.
(Hawthorne Race Course)