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(Stickney, IL)– Local horses from quaint small towns throughout the Prairie State, the State of Illinois, won a trio of Illini Classic Yearling Sale graduates posted victories in $29,000 stakes races for Illinois-breds at Hawthorne Race Course last weekend, while another captured a $7,000 undercard event highlighted by an upset in the Darn Safe for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Lousrolando (LOU'S LEGACY – OFF WHITE – ARMBRO VARIABLE) dismissed by the betting public in the $29,000 Darn Safe at odds of 51-1, led every step of the way for owner-trainer-driver Kyle Husted to score in 2:00.2 for his first career victory. David Brigham shares ownership in the gelded son of Lou's Legacy, who sold for $17,500 from the consignment of Flacco Family Farms LLC.
Husted and Brigham found further success when Fox Valley Exploit (SPORTSMASTER – SHE LIKES IT ALL – THE BIG DOG) captured the $29,000 Time Dancer for three-year-old pacing fillies as the 4-5 favorite in 1:53.4. Purchased for $22,000 from the 2018 consignment of Fox Valley Standardbreds, the daughter of Sportsmaster now boasts $159,000 in career earnings.
In the $29,000 Governor's Cup for freshman pacing colts and geldings, Frontier Charley (SAGEBRUSH – CUZURINITTOWINIT – FT APACHE HANOVER) took the win as the 2-1 2nd choice for owners F. Phillip Langley Estate, Jim Eaton, John Schwarz Jr., and Robert Silberberg in 1:56.1. Purchased for $24,000 from the joint consignment of Sunrise Farm and Frontier Farms, and trained by Eaton, the gelded son of Sagebrush has now earned $50,000 with three wins in six (6) starts.
Sales graduate Fox Valley Liza (MUSCLE MASS – SUPER RENEE – ANGUS HALL) also made headlines recently, taking an $80,000 leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes GOLD Series in track-record time of 1:57.4 on the half-mile (1/2) oval at Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ontario. Owned by Anthony Lombardi, Hen-Shaut Stable, and George T. Golemes, conditioned by Ervin Miller, and trained for her Canadian engagements by Benoit Baillargeon, the daughter of Muscle Mass sold for $27,000 last year from the Fox Valley Standardbreds offering.
The 2020 Illini Classic will take place Monday (September 7) at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Submitted by Kurt Becker for The Horseman's Voice
