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STICKNEY, IL – Saturday night at Hawthorne was Night of Champions as twelve harness racing stake finals were contested for a total of nearly $1.6 million in purses. Despite some brief afternoon showers, the skies cleared and the track was fast for the Saturday evening card.
Race 1 – Scorecard Dandy Strong in Tony Maurello Final
The night kicked off with aged filly and mare pacers in the $60,000 Tony Maurello Final.
Making the top was Scorecard Dandy (Sportsmaster) with Kyle Wilfong as she carved out fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:24.1 through the turn. Tracking just behind was Fox Valley Leah while Skeeter Machine ranged up to challenge in the turn. In the lane Scorecard Dandy was asked and responded nicely, drawing clear to an easy score in 1:51.2.
Bombay Parkway rallied down the center of the track for second while Fox Valley Leah held on for third.
SCORECARD DANDY REPLAY
Owned by Green Acres LLC and Mike Klimas and trained by Greg Kain, Scorecard Dandy won for the 27th time in career start 100.
Race 2 – Louise’s Legacy Takes Eventful Kadabra Championship
Two-year-old male trotters contested the $132,858 Kadabra Championship with a full field of ten as Sunburnt Silverado was the even money favorite.
After a break by Lous Beduino before the start, nine were sent away on the gate as Shady Maple Becker left for the lead. He broke stride in the first turn while also led to a break for Sunburnt Silverado as Ally’s Got Grit inherited the lead through a quarter in :29. Heading to the half with the lead was Ally’s Got Grit as One Trip Chip looked to move but broke stride before the half, leaving Ally’s Got Grit with a four length advantage into the turn in :59.1.
Sunburnt Silverado was back on the move in the turn before a second break, leaving Ally’s Got Grit leading into the stretch through three quarters in 1:28.2. Avoid the chaos was Marcus Miller with Louise’s Legacy (Lou’s Legacy) as she stalked the pace before tipping out in the lane and taking over. Louise’s Legacy was able to draw clear nearing the wire, winning in 1:56.4.
Longshot Frontier Macho rallied for second followed by another longshot in Call Me Maevy who got up for show.
LOUISE’S LEGACY REPLAY
Louise’s Legacy is owned by Ervin Miller Stable, Inc. and Geis Enterprise LLC and trained by Erv Miller.
Race 3 – A Costly Break and a New Track Record
After scratches of Lous Avalon and Lous Night Vision, a field of eight was sent away for the $144,637 Fox Valley Flan final for two-year-old filly trotters.
Sent away as the 2-5 choice was What A Legacy for driver Kyle Wilfong. Into the first turn, second-choice Kays in Charge made a break and dropped out to the back as Lou’s My Number (Lou’s Legacy) and Casey Leonard took the lead through a quarter in :29.4. Lou’s My Number held that advantage past the half and into the lane through fractions of 1:00.0 and 1:29.0.
In the stretch What A Legacy came to challenge and took over mid-stretch. Just shy of the wire, What A Legacy broke stride as Lou’s My Number came back for the victory. Off the strong final quarter, Lou’s My Number set a new track record for two-year-old filly trotters, stopping the clock in 1:56.4. What A Legacy was second while longshot Dandy’s Princess finished third.
LOU’S MY NUMBER REPLAY
Lou’s My Number is owned in partnership by Searle, Buzzard, Paloma and Paloma and trained by Steve Searle.
Race 4 – Marvelous Mystery Strong in Victory
The $80,000 Carl Becker Memorial Championship for aged filly and mare trotters had just a field of four as Marvelous Mystery (Lou’s Legacy) was the 2-5 favorite.
After the start, driver Marcus Miller decided to send Marvelous Mystery for the lead over Loulita through an opening quarter in :29.2. The two leaders stayed in order as Marvelous Mystery held her advantage through a half in :59.4 and three quarters in 1:29.2. In the lane Miller roused Marvelous Mystery and she responded well, drawing away to win in 1:55.4.
Loulita held second while Radiant Diamond finished third.
MARVELOUS MYSTERY REPLAY
Marvelous Mystery is owned by Curt, Craig and Leo Grummel and trained by Curt Grummel.
Race 5 – He’zzz A Wise Sky Does it Again
Aged male pacers lined up with a field of eight in the $60,000 Phil Langley Memorial Championship as both Fox Valley Landen and He’zzz A Wise Sky (Yankee Skyscraper) were sent away at 9-5.
In the opening turn it was Fox Valley Langley who got away quickly and made the lead. Nearing the quarter, Fox Valley Landen ranged up to challenge in :28.0. On the backstretch, driver Kyle Wilfong decided it was time to go with He’zzz A Wise Sky as he took over through a half in :55.0. Catching a breather into the turn, He’zzz A Wise Sky accelerated into the lane after three quarters in 1:23.1 and was able to hold sway, winning in 1:50.3.
Fox Valley Landen was a game second while Fox Valley Langley held on for third.
HE’ZZZ A WISE SKY REPLAY
Owned by Triple Zzz Stable and trained by John Filomeno, He’zzz A Wise Sky won for the 56th time in 131 career starts, surpassing $800,000 in lifetime earnings.
Race 6 – Gorgeous Big Guy With Another Big Effort
Three-year-old male pacers took to the track in the $155,244 Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial Championship as Gorgeous Big Guy (Ashlee’s Big Guy) was a heavy favorite, looking for his 11th career win in 12 starts.
At the start it was longshot Doctor Cruise who was sent for the lead through the quarter in :27.4. Turning onto the backside, driver Marcus Miller sent Gorgeous Big Guy for the lead as he passed the half in :56.3. Into the turn Guitar Man ranged up to challenge as the duo passed three quarters in 1:24.2. Into the stretch, Miller roused Gorgeous Big Guy and he responded, drawing clear to win in 1:51.3.
Guitar Man held second while Fox Valley Kodiak rallied for third.
GORGEOUS BIG GUY REPLAY
Gorgeous Big Guy is owned by Douglas Overhiser and Mark Winshup and trained by Erv Miller.
Race 7 – A ‘Beautiful’ Win
The $224,623 Incredible Tillie Championship for two-year-old fillies had a full field as 1-5 favorite Thebeautifulthings (Somestarsomewhere) was looking for her eighth victory in nine lifetime starts. Making the lead early was Wildcat Abby as she was in control through fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25.2. Thebeautifulthings and driver Kyle Husted sat just behind the leader, waiting into the lane to make her move. In the stretch, Thebeautifulthings tipped out and took over as she drew away to win in 1:52.2.
Wildcat Abby held second while longshot Fox Valley Showgal finished third
THEBEAUTIFULTHINGS REPLAY
Thebeautifulthings is owned by Douglas Overhiser, Husted Racing Stable, John Schwarz, Jr. and Mark Winship and trained by Amy Husted.
Race 8 – ‘Cash’ing in Another Victory
The richest race on the card was the $226,545 Incredible Finale Championship for two-year-old male pacers. Cash Money Twenty (Stevensville) was the heavy favorite as he looked for his tenth win in eleven career starts. At the start it was Battlin Bob who cleared and set the early fractions of :28.1 and :57.0 to the half.
As the longshots chasing the pace tired into the turn, Battlin Bob opened up a five-length lead through three quarters in 1:24.3 while Dialogue and Cash Money Twenty both tipped three wide. In the lane it was the two favorites going on while Cash Money Twenty held off a game Dialogue, winning in 1:52.2. Battlin Bob held on for third.
CASH MONEY TWENTY REPLAY
Cash Money Twenty is owned by Heart & Soul Racing and driver Casey Leonard and is trained by Mike Brink.
Race 9 – Niko Man Sharp in the Slop
As the rain continued to fall, the track was listed as sloppy for the ninth race Saturday. A field of six aged trotters contested the $60,000 Plesac Championship as Lou’s Di Nomite was scratched. Favored was Niko Man (Cassis) for driver Kyle Wilfong. At the start it was Lous Lancelot who made the top in :28.2 as Lousdobb chased the pace.
After a half in :57.0, Lous Lancelot held the lead into the turn while Nike Man was on the move from the back of the pack. After three quarters in 1:26.0, Niko Man took over and drew off in the stretch, winning in 1:54.1. Lous Lancelot held on for second while Lousdobb finished third.
NIKO MAN REPLAY
Niko Man is owned by Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman and trained by Ken Rucker. The win was the 20th for Niko Man in 48 career starts.
Race 10 – Fox Valley Tessa Rallies In Time
A full field of three-year-old filly pacers lined up in the $189,701 Plum Peachy Championship as Fox Valley Sadie was sent away as the 2-1 favorite. At the start it was Hypeyourbestieup who made the lead in :29.1. On the backstretch First of Her Name was keen to go along with Fox Valley Sadie as they made the half in :56.1.
After three quarters in 1:24.3, First of Her Name led the field into the stretch but started to tire. With the field fanning out, Fox Valley Tessa (Time To Roll) and driver Wyatt Avenatti closed best of all, winning in 1:53.2. Longshot No Words Needed got up for place while Dandy’s Ms Swifty closed to finish third.
FOX VALLEY TESSA REPLAY
Fox Valley Tessa is owned by Searle, Code, Nellinger, and Barnett and trained by Steve Searle.
Race 11 – Tru Cash Benefits from Traffic Trouble for Others
Three-year-old male trotters were next in the $134,744 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship as the field of ten was led by favored Jewels For Champ. Leaving from the outside was Little Chipper as Jared Finn guided him through an opening quarter in :29.1 and half in :58.0. Pressed by Shady Maple Alstar into the turn, Little Chipper maintained his lead through three quarters in 1:27.2.
In the lane, both Shady Maple Alstar and Lous Private Eye looked for racing room behind a tiring and weaving Little Chipper but neither got clear until too late as Kyle Wilfong had clear sailing with Tru Cash (Lindy’s True Grit) down the center of the lane, winning in 1:56.3. Shady Maple Alstar was second while Lous Private Eye finished third.
TRU CASH REPLAY
Tru Cash is owned by Jerry Graham and Douglas Overhiser and trained by Erv Miller.
Race 12 – Whiskey Lou Wins Again
The final race on the Night of Champions card was the $109,658 Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship for three-year-old filly trotters. The heavy favorite was Whiskey Lou (Lou’s Legacy) with Casey Leonard in the bike. At the start it was Calypso Moon who made the lead after the quarter in :30.4. On the backstretch Fox Valley Tiegen took after, passing the half in :59.4.
On the turn the favorite took over and opened up as he passed three quarters in 1:29.1. In the lane Whiskey Lou was well clear, winning in 1:56.2. Peekaboo Sal rallied for second while Fox Valley Tiegen held third.
WHISKEY LOU REPLAY
Whiskey Lou is owned by Randy Wilt and trained by Curt Grummel
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, races three live meets in 2024. The winter harness season concluded on February 12. Spring/Summer thoroughbreds began March 23, racing through October 13. Harness racing returned October 19 and races through the end of the year. Hawthorne is open daily for full-card simulcasting as well as for sports wagering in the Fanatics Sportsbook. For any information about Hawthorne Race Course visit our website www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
