Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association
Archive for month: September, 2017
Night of Champions Lived Up to its Billing
By Mike Paradise
The end of summer officially came two days ago but you could have fooled a lot of people in the good sized crowd on hand for Saturday’s Night of Champions, the showcase event of Hawthorne’s 2017 harness racing meet.
When the horses went to the gate for the first of 11 lucrative ICF stake championships the temperature was a balmy 84 degrees. While the weather was very warm and humid, the action on the race track was even hotter and no doubt it had trainers and owners sweating out the outcome of each final.
Here’s how those eleven state-bred stake showdowns went with $1.38 million in purse money on the line.
(Race 2) $115,000 Kadabra Two-Year-Old Male Trot
Illinimight (No. 1, Tony Morgan). Four Footed Photo
Maybe it was only fitting that the initial champion horse of the gala evening was piloted by former Chicago Circuit kingpin Tony Morgan who made his first return to Illinois in 12 years to drive on the Night of Champions.
The four-time National Harness Driver of the Year got the call to drive Illinimight for the Mike Brink Stable and despite one road problem after another Tony steered the son of Cassis to a half-length victory over the even-money favorite Cruzen Cassie (Jared Finn) with a first season best time of 2:00.1.
Morgan dropped the 2-year-old trotter Illinimight into the fifth spot in the early going and when the horse in front of him, Majestic Caprice, went off stride, Tony had to snatch the lines of his trotter to avoid an accident.
True Detective (5-2, Casey Leonard) powered to the top soon after a 1:00.1 half-mile time but for a second straight week went off stride on the lead in the lane and eliminated himself
Meanwhile Illinimight ($6.60) was bottled-up in the last turn, however Morgan patiently got his 2-year-old in and around some horses going nowhere, ducked the Brink trainee from the middle of the track to the inside lane, and Illinimight took it from there and raked in the $57,500 winner’s share of the $115,000 Kadabra purse for owner Kevin Miller of Arthur, Illinois.
A double disqualification moved the fifth place finisher Fox Valley Strpwr (Freddie Patton Jr.) all the way up to third.
(Race 3) $135,000 Fox Valley Flan Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Good Design (No. 9, Kyle Wilfong), Four Footed Photo.
The unpredictable freshman trotter Good Design put it all together for driver Kyle Wilfong and established a new track record for a 2-year-old filly trotter with a winning 1:58 flat mile over a late-charging Trotting Grace (Kyle Husted).
Owned by her breeder Mr. Lynn Wilfong of Kentland, Indiana, Good Design ($14.00) went off stride in 3 of her last 5 starts, all ICF stake races, but the fickle filly was on her good behavior when it counted on the Night of Champions as she rallied in the lane with a second-over trip from her 28-year-old driver and nailed down her fifth victory in her 10 first career starts.
The 3-5 Fox Valley Flan favorite Maui Mama had to settle for third
(Race 4) $175,000 Incredible Tillie Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Fox Valley Jazzy (Ridge Warren). Four Footed Photo.
Fox Valley Jazzy’s driver Ridge Warren raised his whip high in the air in triumph near the finish wire as he guided the Dale Kanitz talented 2-year-old filly pacer to the $175,000 Incredible Tillie Championship.
The fourth straight win for Fox Valley Jazzy was achieved by a heads-up drive from Warren who left with his pacer, dropped her into third, came out and took command, and then took the favorable pocket trip behind the 3-5 favorite The New Americana (Mike Oosting) into the stretch.
Fox Valley Jazzy ($6.60) then stepped it up a notch and pulled away to a 1:54.4 victory for owner Cathy Finn-Kanitz of Olney, Illinois. The $87,500 winner’s share of the purse boosted the daughter of Yankee Skyscaper’s bankroll to just under $140,000 in her first season of racing
Rollin Coal (Casey Leonard) overtook Allbeastnobeauty (Bobby Smolin) for the runner-up honor.
(Race 5) $120,000 Beulah Dygert Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Anna’s Lucky Star (Kyle Wilfong). Four Footed Photo.
The first betting favorite to win on the Night of Champions was the ultra-consistent three-year-old trotter Anna’s Lucky Star with her regular driver Kyle Wilfong in the sulky.
The overwhelming 1 to 5 favorite grinded her way through the first turn and took over the lead at the first quarter, reached in 28.3, from the early pacesetter Daisy Lou Duke (Kyle Husted).
Kyle then backed the pace down, taking the Terry Winemiller trained filly to a 30.1 second panel. The field started to bunch up in the third quarter but the home-bred public’s choice still had plenty left in her tank and pulled away in the lane by almost three lengths in the 1:56 flat mile.
Bred by her owner Danny Graham of Salem, Illinois the Cassis filly is now 15 for 17 in her first two seasons and has never lost a race outside of her filly division. Anna’s Lucky Star’s ($2.40) career purse earnings now stand at $144,690.
Beatrice (Casey Leonard) held off the late charge of Lous Credit Report (Mike Oosting) for second place.
(Race 6) $115,000 Erwin F. Dygert Three-Year-Old Male Trot
Picky Picky Valor (Marcus Miller) Four Footed Photo.
Picky Picky Valor ($10.20) picked the right night to win his first major ICF stake race because this one came with an $115,000 pot on the line. Mike Oosting got the catch drive behind the Gerald Hansen trained gelding and did a heck of job putting the improving trotter into position to prevail.
Saddled with the 10-hole and second best to division leader Luscipher the last three times they met, Picky Picky Valor shot out from the start and dropped into third. Oosting came out with the winner near the half (:57.1), cleared him to the top and this time Picky Picky Valor showed his heels to Luscipher and his eight other sixth race foes as he ended up more than three lengths the best.
The victory for Shelley Steele of Monee, Illinois saw Picky Picky Valor’s sophomore season earnings shoot up $102,120 with the $57,500 winner’s portion.
Muscle Image (Tony Morgan), who was stuck inside, came on nicely for second while the pace-setting Band’s Houdini (Kyle Wilfong) took home the third place share of the six figure pot.
(Race 7) $60,000 Plesac Three-Year-Old Male Trot
Tricky Nick (Jim Pantaleano). Four Footed Photo.
As expected the Pennsylvania invader Tricky Nick was a convincing winner in the Plesac Championship, just as he was in last week’s Prep for state-bred 3-year-olds and up trotting colts and geldings.
Capably steered by his regular driver Jim Pantaleano, Tricky Nick had to work hard to get ahead of the early leader Primed N Powerful at the 28.3 first quarter. However, a couple of soft middle quarters by Tricky Nick pretty much assured the outcome wasn’t in doubt for the chalk players who sent the son of Band’s Gold Chip off at 1 to 5.
Tricky Nick ($2.60) is trained by Richard Perfido for Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania owner Tom Mattingly.
The 70-1 longshot Fox Valley Shout (Matt Avenatti) was second, beaten three-plus lengths while Riet’s Kid (Tony Morgan) ended up third.
(Race 8) $195,000 Incredible Finale for Two-Year-Old Male Pacers
Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard). Four Footed Photo.
Jim Ballinger’s unbeaten Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) showed again he’s much the best of this year’s crop of ICF freshman pacing colts and geldings, and likely locked-up 2017 Illinois Harness Horse of the Year honors with his impressive ninth triumph in a row.
Watching the race I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought the Terry Leonard trainee was in deep trouble as they headed into the last turn. Casey sent out Fox Valley Gemini from the nine-slot and dropped the 3 to 5 choice into sixth. The winner came off the inside lane on the backside as did Molina who was racing in front of Fox Valley Gemini.
However, Molina wasn’t gaining any ground on the leader Fox Valley Hijinx (Kyle Husted). Casey had to take Fox Valley Gemini three wide in the final turn to get around the stalling Molina but when the field straightened out for the stretch drive the winning Yankee Skyscaper gelding put on a burst of speed and simply drew away from his competition.
The $97,500 winner’s share of the $195,000 pot sent Fox Valley Gemini’s freshman earnings soaring to $167,320 for his Salem, Illinois owner who had no less than 47 cheering family and friends join him in the winner’s circle.
Backstreet Lawyer (Mike Oosting) came on for second and Fox Valley Hijinx ended up third.
(Race 9) $60,000 Robert S. Molaro Three and Up Pace
Gibbs (Kyle Husted). Four Footed Photo
Kyle Husted gave Gibbs ($8.80) a ground-saving three-hole trip and the Jim Eaton trained 9-year-old pacer took advantage of it and captured the $60,000 Molaro for Lake Orion, Michigan owner Rick Howles.
Crankin’ It Up (Jim Pantalaeno) won the early battle to get command with the 3-5 favorite Evergreen Elite (Mike Oosting) right behind him and Gibbs in third. They stayed that way through the 57.2 half. Mid-way in the last turn Husted moved Gibbs out and was eye-ball to eye-ball with Crankin’ It Up to the three-quarters with Evergreen Elite locked-in behind them.
Oosting did eventually get Evergreen Elite out to a clear path but there was no catching Gibbs on this night. Crankin’ It Up held on for second, beaten by almost two lengths in the 1:52.2 mile.
(Race 10) $180,000 Robert F. Carey Three-Year-Old Male Pace
Captain Rhett (Kyle Husted). Four Footed Photo.
The 3-year-old colt and gelding showdown was a wide-open stake expected to give us some fast fractions and it did just that as the hard-charging Captain Rhett came roaring down the lane to pop at 11-1 in 1:50.3, the fastest mile of the night.
Marcus Miller got the catch drive behind the winning Jim Horvath trained gelding and he bided his time in the middle of the pack while Sporty Redhot (12-1, Juan Franco) held out the 99-1 longshot Ima Skydancer (Bobby Smolin) through sizzling fractions of 26.4 and 54 flat to the half.
When those two pacers went into retreat, the late closers came a calling.
It was Captain Rhett ($24.20), owned by Illinoisans Harvey Grief (Odell) and Robert Verdun (Pontiac) who proved to be the fastest, flashing past and adding $90,000 to his 3-year-old earnings now at over $140,000.
Fox Valley Inferno (Kyle Wilfong) edged out Slzburgerslzburger (Kyle Husted) for second place.
(Race 11) $165,000 Plum Peachy Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
San Antonio Rose (Kyle Husted). Four Footed Photo.
After going winless in her first nine starts of the year San Antonio Rose ($6.40) certainly got good at the right time as she sped to a front-stepping third straight victory in the Plum Peachy Final.
Kyle Husted pulled the Nick Prather trained filly out of second after Boogie On Down got to the first quarter in a quick 27 flat. San Antonio Rose took the field to a 54.3 half and to the three-quarters in 1:22.2 and opened up a huge lead.
Fancy Creek Jolene came on with a rush after her but was the bridesmaid at the end of the 1:52.2 mile, a new mark for San Antonio Rose. The 60-1 longshot Filly Forty (pp 10, Jim Pantaleano) finished third.
San Antonio Rose is owned by George Pollock of Rushville, Illinois and D Kay Bartlow of Augusta, Illinois.
(Race 12) $60,000 Tony Maurello Three and Upward Mare Pace
Bucklegirl Bobette (inside, Kyle Wilfong). Four Footed Photo.
The tightest finish on the card came in the finale when Bucklegirl Bobette gave Kyle Wilfong his third championship drive by nosing out Fox Valley Charm (Mike Oosting).
The Bob Walker trained winner was the third Night of Champions horse to win from the nine-post.
Five mares sprinted away for early position with Fox Valley Charm making the top and Bucklegirl Bobette dropping into fifth.
After a 28.2 first panel Bucklegirl Bobette made a strong move and cleared to the front and went on to hold a late surge by the pocket pacer of Fox Valley Charm to win in 1:53.3 for Illinois owners Hart Walker (Jerseyville), trainer Bob Walker, Charles Walker and Robyn Klinger, all from Carrolton.
The four-year-old Duneside Perch mare’s victory was her seventh in an even dozen trips postward.
It’s the Finale: The curtain comes down on Hawthorne’s meeting Sunday evening with five $30,000 ICF Consolation stake on the nine race program .
The Jackpot High-Five Pool has a carryover of nearly $180,000 and management is estimating the pool will swell to $500,000 on the fifth race wager that does have a mandatory payout on closing night.
With harness racing for 2017 in Illinois coming to an end I’ll be writing a once a week column through the rest of the year every Friday right here on the IHHA web-site
The Wait Is Over
By Mike Paradise
With $1.38 million in purse money on the line for eleven ICF championships Hawthorne’s Night Of Champions and the driver colony boosted by the return to Illinois of former Chicago circuit leading drivers Tony Morgan and Marcus Miller, we are in for a very entertaining and action-packed Saturday of harness racing.
Here’s how I see tonight’s Night of Champions Finals:
(Race 2) $115,000 Kadabra Two-Year-Old Male Trot
The Curt Grummel Stable’s True Detective has won all five career starts when he has stayed on stride but as we have seen from time to time, a flat mile isn’t always in the cards for the freshman.
True Detective likely had last week’s race won if he didn’t made a break coming out of the last turn, but he did.
Speaking of breaks, Crusen Cassi tried to duck the gate and went off stride at the start in the same race and still came a a long way to finish second, so respect his chances here.
And then there’s Illininmike, a 15-1 longshot winner last week who keeps getting better and better. His trainer Mike Brink turns over the lines tonight to Tony Morgan the now 59-year-old driver former Chicago circuit kingpin with over $15,000 career dash winners, and the gelding drew the rail too boot.
Mike’s Pick: True Detective
(Race 3) $135,000 Fox Valley Flan Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
All eyes and a great deal of the Win Pool money will be on the streaking Maui Mama from the barn of Springfield conditioner Mike Brink. She’s rattled off five victories in a row and has tasted defeat only once in in her eight career starts.
Maui Mama drew nicely with the four-slot for regular driver Casey Leonard who probably won’t wait long to have the filly up-close where she could keep her winning streak intact.
The luck of the draw wasn’t kind to the Steve Searle’s Trotting Grace but she has gate speed and probably has little choice to be asked to shoot out and hope to gain early position in decent shape. She was much the best in her elimination last week.
Good Design is the question mark. When she has stayed flat, she’s been right there as her 4-for-9 record shows and over $133,000 in earnings. She also drew lousy with the nine-slot and I don’t think the plan is for her to come from last and try to win this championship.
Mike’s Pick: Maui Mama
(Race 4) $175,000 Incredible Tillie Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
No doubt the draw for posts makes The New Americana the filly too beat. The Steve Searle trainee followed up a disappointing third a couple of weeks ago with a convincing victory in this division’s fourth leg and figures to be out in a hurry with the one-slot.
Fox Valley Jazzy landed the 9-hole in this 10-horse field nevertheless she’s been sharp and has more wins (7) than any other filly in her division.
When you’re going for $175,000 and have a horse with gate speed you can pretty count on a pacer like Fox Valley Jazzy to have her nose on the gate and sprinting away in a hurry when “they’re off.” The first quarter could be the key for Fox Valley Jazzy.
Rollin Coal is a threat to take advantage of a quicker pace in this final than in last week’s elimination. You may also see good late moves from the Gary Rath trained two-some of Shelby Rae and Frontier Cuzin.
Mike’s Pick: The New Americana
(Race 5) $120,000 Beulah Dygert Three-Year-old Filly Trot
Another victory tonight and you could make a effective case for Danny Graham’s filly Anna’s Lucky Star to come away with the title as the No. 1 harness horse in Illinois for 2017.
She certainly has dominated her division for a second straight year.
Anna’s Lucky Star’s stake series win last week was her eighth in 10 season starts and she’s unbeaten in her last seven outings. The filly has lost only twice this year and both came out of her division against some older male trotters in Hawthorne conditioned events.
In fact Anna’s Lucky Star has never lost a race in her ICF divisions. She went 6-for-6 as a 2-year-old and she’s 6-for-6 as a 3-year-old against other state bred fillies.
Lou’s Credit Report with the rail and Daisy Lou Duke, post four, appear to be her biggest menaces tonight.
Mike’s Pick: Anna’s Lucky Star
(Race 6) $115,000 Erwin F. Dygert Three-Year-Old Male Trot
The division leader Louscipher is back in top form and is riding a four race winning streak into the race. He’ll likely be settled in at the start and be on the move somewhere on the backside where he’ll probably have to try and overtake Picky Picky Valor again.
Picky Picky Valor is always right there but hasn’t won a stakes final yet. He’ll use his gate speed tonight and how easily or not he makes the top could determine his fate.
Bands Houdini and Muscle Image have shown at times the ability to come to out on top. Trainer Mike Brink turns over the lines of Muscle Image tonight Tony Morgan.
Mike’s Pick: Louscipher
(Race 7) $60,000 Plesac Three-Year-Old Male Trot
After Tricky Nick’s dominating performance in last week’s Prep for this stake, it’ll take a huge effort by another foe or a miscue by the Richard Perfido 5-year-old trotter to keep him from revisiting the winner’s circle.
The often underrated Ants Iner Pants was second best to Tricky Nick a week ago and she’s one of his major threats again. Fox Valley Veto can get an up-close trip but he’ll have to step it up a notch to take this championship
Mike’s Pick: Tricky Nick
(Race 8) $195,000 Incredible Finale for Two-Year-Old Male Pacers
It’s hard to make an argument against perfection and that’s why a victory by Fox Valley Gemini on the Night of Champions probably earns him the 2017 Illinois Harness Horse of the Year honors for his owner Jim Ballinger.
The Terry Leonard Stable’s Fox Valley Gemini will bring his unbeaten record of eight in a row into this final and it might be a start that the Yankee Skyscraper youngster didn’t make that helps him win this championship.
Fox Valley Gemini made his first career start until June 22, so he missed the first leg of the Incredible Finale. He won all three times in July, sweeping the Cardinal and capturing an Incredible Finale Series leg. In August he won on the 12th at Springfield and came back four days later on the 16th to also notch that State Fair’s $50,000 championship.
The decision was made not to ship Fox Valley Gemini to Du Quoin for the Governor’s Cup two weeks later and instead the horse was rested-up with three important consecutive weekends of ICF stakes coming up in September.
The talented freshman pacer captured the third leg of the Incredible Finale on the 9th, and the fourth leg last Saturday on the 16th. Is he up for the big one tonight on the 23rd?
I think so.
Fox Valley Hijinx is a potent threat. Getting the one-slot is huge for this Kyle Husted trainee. His driver will likely do what he can to protect his post and maybe hope for a possible pocket trip.
Hart To Heart is a late-bloomer with ability. It took a 27 or so second quarter last week for him to swoop to the top and that proved costly for the stretch drive. A different trip makes him a major contender as well.
Mike’s Pick: Fox Valley Gemini
(Race 9) $60,000 Robert S. Molaro Three and Up Pace
There really isn’t a clear-cut favorite in this race.
Evergreen Elite won last week’s prep but he did get a good inside trip and got out at the right time. He might again.
Crankin’ It Up got the action at the betting windows and did race well in defeat. Maybe tonight he can flush out the above and out-close him in the lane.
Mystical Walter has speed and the rail and that’s always a possible winning combination and the Terry Leonard trainee has over $384,000 in lifetime earnings, tops in this 10-horse field.
Then there’s Gibbs. He followed a Sept. 8 clunker with a big effort last week and was finishing the fastest, plus he gets a favorable post change for trainer Jim Eaton.
Mike’s Pick: Crankin’ It Up
(Race 10) $180,000 Robert F. Carey Three-Year-Old Male Pace
You can probably find reasons for about eight different ICF sophomores to come away with the big prize. It most likely will come down to the trip. I’m expecting a fast first half, maybe around 55 seconds and if that’s the case the winner could be doing it in come-from-behind fashion.
A couple of “Fox Valley’s” are the morning line favorites with “Nemitz” listed 3-1 and “Herbie” at 4-1. Both pacers have been best coming from behind. In fact trainer Tom Simmons calls Fox Valley Herbie “his heart attack horse” because of his usual late-charging style of racing.
Springfield champion Captain Rhett is a hard-trying pacer and gets Marcus Miller at his lines for the first time. A well-timed move could see the Jim Horvath trainee get the job done. Then there’s Sporty Redhot who is always in the thick of it and is a serious consideration as well.
I’m taking a shot with Slzburgerslzburger who popped at 20-1 last week, his first start on Lasix. It was a game 1:52 flat mile. Maybe he can follow-up live cover for trainer Matt McKenzie and send his Buffalo Grove, Illinois owner home $90,000 richer.
Mike’s Pick: Slzburgerslzburger
(Race 11) $165,000 Plum Peachy Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
There should be quite a battle in the early part of this stake and then another when they turn for home. On paper, there is a lot of horses who want to be up-close and that includes the 2-1 morning line favorite Lady’s Party.
Lady’s Party got away with a soft 58.3 first half on the front last week. That won’t happen with ten times more money on the line tonight. I don’t expect Casey Leonard to duck her either, coming from ninth or 10th to win this stake isn’t likely in the cards.
Both the first two inside fillies, Boogie On Down (pp 1) and San Antonio Rose (pp 2), have had their success racing up close or on the front end. The same goes for Princess Sage (pp 5) and Lady’s Party (pp 9).
That’s why I’m going with the Kim Hamilton Stable’s Fancy Creek Jolene who has shown she can fly in the lane and may do just that tonight and rally in time.
Mike’s Pick: Fox Valley Jolene
(Race 12) $60,000 Tony Maurello Three and Upward Mare Pace
We close Illinois showcase night of racing with another competitive slugfest and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
The sharp 4-year-old mare Bucklegirl Bobette captured last week’s Prep however she had the rail then and she has the outside nine-slot tonight, so her task is a difficult one.
The 5-2 program choice is Joyful Game from the barn of Kim Roth. She was a luke-warm favorite last week and looked to be in good shape racing second after a slow 59.1 half but came up empty. Tony Morgan is in town to drive her tonight and she’ll benefit from a start over this track
Fox Valley Charm was a non-threat in her prep after a series of previous solid efforts. She is this stake’s defending champ and likely will be used much more aggressively in this final.
Whiskerosonkittens, also a Kim Roth trainee, had another big effort and that’s something she does on a regular basis. She also can show gate speed.
LK’s Nancy Lee was in peak form until last week. Since she’s a first time Lasix user tonight I’m going to assume she bled in that prep so toss out that finish and consider her.
Mike’s Pick: Whiskersonkittens
Good luck and enjoy a terrific night of Illinois racing.
Night of Champion Purses Get Huge Boost
By Mike Paradise
When Illinois harness horsemen and owners look at the purses on Hawthorne’s Night of Champions card they’ll probably rub their eyes in disbelief.
Nevertheless, they can believe what they see and that’s a momentous increase over the estimated purses in all the ICF championships, for Saturday’s showcase evening of Illinois harness racing.
They can thank the Illinois Department of Agriculture 708 Budget Line, for over $1.5 million in funds strictly for use in ICF stake races and the Spring County Fairs through July 1, 2018.
The governor’s office released the funds and Tuesday the Illinois Standardbred Breeder’s Fund Advisory Board and the Illinois Department of Agriculture jointly determined how the money was allocated.
As you’ll see a hefty portion went to the purses on Saturday’s Night of Champions.
For example: The Robert F. Carey for ICF 3-year-old pacing males was to go for $117,100. Now they’ll race for $180,000. The 3-year-old filly Plum Peachy for sophomore filly pacers jumped from $107,500 to $165,000.
Meanwhile, the ICF freshmen didn’t get overlooked. Saturday’s $125,000 estimated Incredible Tillie filly pace shot up by $50,000 to $175,000 and the Incredible Finale for “the boys” is no longer an $111,700 pot, it’s now an even $195,000 purse.
The state-bred trotters got nice hefty hikes in their championships as well, with the 2-year-old filly Fox Valley Flan getting the biggest boost, a $49,200 increase to $135,000. The other three trot championships on the card received increases of $41,200, $38,150 and $38,150.
The lowest purse for any of Saturday’s Night of Champion finals now sits at $60,000.
Altogether $1.38 million in purses are on the line in eleven ICF stake events on Hawthorne’s Night of Championships. That’s a lot of dough and over $472,000 of it came this week from the Illinois Department of Agriculture funding.
What you likely won’t read anywhere else, is that it was the IHHA Lobbyists working hard behind the scenes, that played a huge role getting those $1.5 million in funds released to the Illinois bred harness racing community. The same IHHA lobbyists that often are criticized by some association members as an “unnecessary expense.”
Well, here are $1.5 million reasons why they indeed are a “necessary” expense. This obvious huge development for Illinois harness racing would not have occurred without the IHHA lobbying efforts.
It was also announced this week jointly by Dept. of Agriculture and the Standardbred Advisory Board, that there will be two days of Fall Review races at Springfield to be held on Saturday Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 30.
Still to be worked out, are likely substantial increases in next year’s Violet and Cardinal stakes of both gaits, as well monies for County Fair purses, possible distribution for any ICF stakes during the winter meet, and maybe some new state-bred stakes.
Details on any future allocation of 708 Dept. of Agriculture Budget Line Funds will be posted on the IHHA web-site at www.harnessillinois.com when they become available.
Morgan, Miller Coming Here: The driver colony for Saturday’s Night of Champions got a big boost with the word that both former Chicago circuit driving champions Tony Morgan and Marcus Miler are coming to town.
Morgan is closing in on 16,000 lifetime winners and only Dave Palone, with 18,000-plus has a higher total. Tony was named Harness Driver of the Year by Harness Tracks of America four different times—1996, 1997, 2002 and 2006.
Morgan, a long-time past president of the IHHA, was the acknowledged kingpin of Illinois drivers through much of the 1990’s and into the 2000’s before he left the state for the much more enticing purses offered up at the Casino-aided race tracks up and down the east coast.
The now 59-year-old native, hasn’t driven in the Chicago area since the end of the 2005 racing season, some 12 years ago. Horses Morgan has steered, have earned over $126 million. Only 12 drivers have ever had horses earn more.
The 28-year-old Miller left the local circuit for Pennsylvania after the 2012 season. In his previous three years Marcus drove over 1,300 in Illinois with a career season best coming in 2011 when he won the Maywood Park driving title.
Stepping Up for His Stable-Mate
By Mike Paradise
In Major League baseball when a player goes down with a season ending injury he’s put on the Disabled List, his manager says “next up” and a another player is expected to step up and do a good job filling-in for his incapacitated teammate.
The same can be presumed in harness racing.
It certainly was for the Mike Brink Stable. His star ICF 2-year-old trotter Vic’s Pizza suffered a season-ending injury in the Sept. 9th leg of the Kadabra stake series and last Saturday stable-mate Illinimight stepped up big-time, pulling off an upset in the fourth leg of the series with Brink in the bike.
“Illinimight has been getting better and better and I told the guys if they messed up on the race track this horse could end up beating them,” said Brink.
With Vic’s Pizza, the winner of both the Springfield and Du Quoin championship in the ICF freshman make trotting division on the sidelines, Illinimight took advantage of some “messing up” by the series favorite’s True Detective and Cruzen Cassi, and notched his maiden victory in his tenth season start.
First Cruzen Cassi started running soon after the start, although he did come back to be a game second in last Saturday’s Kadabra. Then the heavy favorite True Detective went off-stride on the lead coming into the stretch, creating an opportunity for Illinimight, and the Cassi gelding took advantage of it for Arthur, Illinois owner, Kevin Miller.
“Illinimight has gotten good at the right time,” continued his Springfield based conditioner. “Anything can happen in a trot race, especially with 2-year-olds. We’ll just see how things play out in the final. Vic’s Pizza broke a sesamoid (bone) in his Kadabra race, so he’s done for this year. That’s too bad because I thought he was as good as any trotter in his division. We’ll do what’s necessary to get him healed-up and ready for his 3-year-old season.”
Besides Illinimight Brink has eight other horses going postward in Saturday’s Night of Champions finals. Don’t be surprised if one or more of them of them steps-up and hits a home run for their injured stable-mate.
A Winning Promotion: When was the last time a Chicago circuit race track gave out over $16,000 on a single night to some of its patrons? I’m not talking about some giveaways of dusty left-overs from its storage room. I’m asking about real greenbacks and over $16,000 of it at that.
Can’t remember? I can’t either.
Suffice it to say it’s been a long, long time, but that all changed last Saturday when some lucky Hawthorne patrons cashed-in, and in a big way, on the track’s “Fantasy Horse Owner” marketing gem.
I’ll let Hawthorne’s Publicity Director Jim Miller fill you in on this unique and highly successful on-track promotion:
“The premise of the ‘Fantasy Horse Owner’ contest was to draw some interest in the week leading up to Night of Champions by drawing some new fans to the track through our social media platform. The contest was free to enter through our Facebook page, as we randomly drew four winners. After reaching out to our winners, three replied and came out with friends and family Saturday night. We treated them to dinner, a visit to the paddock, and rides in the starting car. For the contest, each contestant was given one of the $16,000 (stake series) legs to choose their horse from. Whatever the horse earned, was the amount the winner earned. Unfortunately, for the first contestant, their horse broke at the top of the lane, but we still gave them $500 for the contest. The remaining two winners chose the winner, so each got $8,000. Overall we gave away $16,500. The contest was a big hit! I fully expect we will do more of this in the future. It drew new fans to the track and each said they will return this upcoming weekend.”
Kudos to Hawthorne for spending the kind of dough they did in a genuine effort to get new people to the race track.
What I saw last Saturday, were good-size groups of people in the Hawthorne’s winner’s circle for some contest legs having a great time. They no doubt went and told their friends of their fun-filled and rewarding evening at the races.
And that’s the best kind of promotion or advertising for any business.
Fall Reviews return to Springfield.
Yesterday the Illinois Department of Agriculture, with advice from the Standardbred Advisory Board, allocated funds for two days of Fall Review races at Springfield to be held on Saturday, September 30th and Saturday, October 7th. Details to follow, but all races will be for ICF horses with divisions for 2 year olds, 3 year olds and 4 and up horses expected. Purses are expected to be in $5000 per heat range. However, as with Springfield and Du Quoin, purses are not expected to be paid out immediately. Post time will be at 11a.m. Check back here for more information as it becomes available.
Some Big Surprises in ICF Stakes
By Mike Paradise
It didn’t take long last night for a stunning upset to put a smile on the faces of some longshot players when the 2-year-old gelding Illinimight picked the right spot to pick-up his maiden victory.
Illinimight (Mike Brink) Four Footed Photo,
Driven by his Springfield, Illinois based trainer Mike Brink, the 15-1 longshot Illinimight ($33.80) took advantage literally of some breaks and racked up a winning 2:00.2 mile in the $16,000 Kadabra stake for state-bred male trotting freshmen.
The heavy 2 to 5 favorite True Detective, winner of 5 of 7 career starts, including the previous two Kadabra series legs, looked to be in great shape to reward his many backers with a two-hole trip behind the 44-1 longshot pacesetter Fox Valley Strpwr but coming out of the last turn he went off stride, making it any trotter’s race.
It turned out to be Illinimight’s race as he rallied down the lane to grab command and then held off a late bid by Cruzen Cassi who started galloping soon after the gate sprang open and still finished second. Fox Valley Strpwr held on for third.
Owned by Kevin Miller of Arthur, Illinois, Illinimight was given a patient three-hole trip by Brink and it paid off with a one length victory.
Chalk players could breathe a sigh of relief when unbeaten Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) left no doubt he’s the kingpin of the ICF 2-year-old colt and gelding pace division with a decisive two and one-half length triumph in the first Incredible Finale stake division.
Sent off at prohibitive 1-9 odds, Casey sent Fox Valley Gemini to the front on the backside and the Terry Leonard trainee went on to make it eight in a row with a 1:53.2 clocking for owner Jim Ballinger of Atwater, Illinois.
Dandy Dune was second best and Backstreet Lawyer took home the third place money of the $16,000 fourth leg pot.
Fox Valley Hijinx (Kyle Husted). Four Footed Photo
Driver Kyle Husted gave Fox Valley Hijinx ($6.40) a winning pocket trip behind the 4-5 favorite Hart To Heart in the second Incredible Finale division.
Husted, who also trains Fox Valley Hijinx, hustled his freshman pacer to an early lead, then settled in the two-hole when Bobby Smolin took Hart To Heart out from the middle of the pack and into command with a 27 and change second quarter.
In the lane, Husted took the winner to the inside where the Yankee Skyscaper gelding powered his way to his second season win in 1:54.1 for Michigan owner David Brigham.
Slzburgerslzburger (Kyle Husted). Four Footed Photo
Another major upset occurred in the first division of the Robert S. Carey Memorial when Slezburgerslzburger ($42.80) overcoming the 10-hole with a gutsy 1:52 flat victory with driver Kyle Husted.
Hurried away from the outside post Slzburgerslzburger was dropped into sixth in the early going. The Matt McKenzie trained 3-year-old came out on the backstretch and raced without cover the rest of the way and still gained a one-length victory over the favorite Fox Valley Inferno for his owner and breeder Engel Stable of Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
The second Carey division saw a change of tactics by the Tom Simmons Stable’s Fox Valley Herbie ($4.80) who usually comes from further out of it for his regular driver Mike Oosting. This time the sophomore pacer sprinted out and grabbed the three-hole.
When the 50-1 longshot Uptown Sleaze and Captain Rhett battled hard through middle quarters of 27.2 and 27.3 Oosting waited with Fox Valley Herbie for the stretch drive where the winner rallied past for a 1 and 1/4 length triumph in 1:52.3 over Uptown Sleaze, saddled with the 10-hole in a 11-horse field.
Earlier on the Saturday 12-race card the Flacco Family Farm’s Louscipher (Casey Leonard) continued his dominance of the ICF 3-year-old colt and gelding trotting division when he wore the front-steeping Picky Picky Valor in the fourth and final leg of the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial stake series with a career best mile of 1:55.1.
Trained by Roshun Trigg for his Alexis, Illinois owners, Louscipher ($2.20) was pulled out of fourth before the last turn, grinded his way towards Picky Picky Valor (Brian Carpenter) and then surged past in the late going for his ninth win in 16 season starts and his fourth in a row.
The $15,000 Robert S. Molaro single elimination for state-breds age three and up went to the even-money choice Evergreen Elite (Mike Oosting). The Ken Rucker trained 5-year-old zipped past in the lane to win in 1:52.2. Gibbs made a late charge to be second. The 10th place finisher Caffeine Kid was eliminated form next Saturday’s final.
On A Roll: It was a rewarding night for Mike’s Price Shots as both Are You Terry ($14.60) in race nine and Ideals Oath ($15.80) in race 11 came through at double digit prices.
They were preceded by Rock Steady Ron in Thursday’s opener at $13.00 and Lilly’s Real Boy at $11.40 on Friday night.
Top Trotters Tangle: A $13,500 Open Trot is Sunday’s feature with a full-field of 10 horses going to the gate in the seventh race.
The co-favorites are Angie Coleman Stable’s Banker Volo (5-2, Kyle Wilfong) assigned the outside 10-post after his victory two weeks ago in an Open Handicap at Running Acres, and Big Expense (3-1, Kyle Husted), with the six-slot, the runner-up at Hawthorne last week ago as the even-money favorite.
Final Chance for “The Boys” to Gain Championships
By Mike Paradise
After Saturday’s Hawthorne card is over we’ll know who will qualify for next Saturday night’s Night of Champions showdowns. In some ICF divisions the finalists are already determine.
That’s the case in the Erwin F. Dygert stake for 3-year-old male trotters. All seven of tonight’s starters in the $16,000 fourth leg second race are championship bound, headed up by the division leader Louscipher (pp 1, Casey Leonard).
It’s not cut-and-dry in the Incredible Finale stake series where 36 different 2-year-old colt or gelding pacers at one time or another have competed in the first three legs.
As it stands now in the series point standings there’s a log jam for the last three spots.
Presently in eighth place Molina has 41 series points, Beach Shootingstar and Hart to Heart are at 37, Bootleg Island has 33, Shooting Straight has 31, and Dandy Dune has 26 and Not Me Gram 25. A number of other freshmen lower down on the list tonight can vault into the final field with an upset win or in some cases a second place finish.
Unbeaten Springfield champion Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) goes for his eighth in a row tonight. (Four Footed Photo)
Unbeaten Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) goes for his eighth in a row in the fifth race Incredible Finale split. He’s on top with 100 points, the same as Mykonos. Lambo with 58, Al’s Briefs with 55, Song Cycle Senese and Heza Shooter with 50 each and Backstreet Lawyer with 45 are unofficially “in.”
The third race Kadabra stake field of state-bred colts and geldings has eight trotters going postward and they’ll all be back for its estimated $80,000 Final. Springfield and Du Quoin champion Vic’s Pizza is skipping tonight’s fourth leg but he has enough series points (26) to also be a finalist.
The Robert F. Carey Memorial stake series has had 27 Illinois bred sophomore pacers try their luck in the first three legs and that list will grow to 29 when Frontier Fred (race 8) and Strait Rate (race 12) go to the gate for the first time in it.
A high finish by a number of 3-year-olds tonight could vault them into the Top Ten and a berth in the Carey championship.
You can pencil in the current first seven point leaders: Fox Valley Herbie (112 points), Fox Valley Nemitz (101), Ima Skydancer (60), Captain Rhett (58), Royale Big Guy (55), Sporty Redhot (51) and Fox Valley Inferno (50).
The last two places for the final are up for grabs with Decent Lawyer (38), Slzburgerslzburger (33), In Your Eye (31), Fox Valley Reggie (25), Gabe Henry (21), Mississippi Rabbit (20) and Fox Valley Hoss (14) all in the hunt.
Three of the Carey division top point series leaders—Fox Valley Herbie (Mike Oosting), Fox Valley Nemitz (Casey Leonard) and Captain Rhett (Kyle Husted)—all drew in the tenth race second Carey division along with Royale Big Guy (Jim Pantaleano), one of the pre-stake series favorites.
Royale Big Guy is back in town for tonight’s fourth leg of the Robert F. Carey Memorial stake series. (four Footed Photo)
Royale Big Guy was an even-money favorite in his first Carey leg and a disappointing fifth in the second. The Norm Parker trainee then spent the next six weeks on the sidelines in Pennsylvania before his Aug. 17 qualifier at The Meadows.
The Megan Rogers Stable of Chicago owned gelding made two starts since at The Meadows and looks ready for a big effort off those two races however he might need to weave his way through traffic with his 11-post behind the one-horse In Your Eye.
There’s not much suspense for the final field of the $50,000 Molaro for older ICF pacers. A single 10-horse sixth race elimination field will have the first nine finishers advancing with only the last place horse not moving on.
Drawing a bye into nest weekend’s Molaro championship was He’s Gone Jack with the highest season earnings at Hawthorne among the 11 horses passing the entry box with a $750 check from their respective owners to compete in the stake for male pacers age three and upward.
Heading to the gate in tonight’s $15,000 elimination are Cole Heat, Lucky Crusader, Evergreen Elite, Crankin’ It Up, Fox Valley Cupid, Mystical Walter, Gibbs, Dinky Dune, Caffeine Kid and Ricky Bobbie.
Rosy Time for Favorites: The fourth leg of Friday night’s $16,000 filly and mare stake series saw every race favorite prevail with one exception and that came in the first $16,000 Plum Peachy division when the 10-1 longshot San Antonio Rose ($23.80) popped.
Driver Kyle Husted took the 3-year-old filly pacer to a quick 55.2 first half and went on to a career fastest winning 1:52.2 mile.
The 3-5 public’s choice Lady’s Party ($3.20, Casey Leonard) eked out a front-end victory in the second Plum Peachy split with a neck decision over My Kind of Dance in 1:53.4.
There were no surprises in either of the Fox Valley Flan divisions. Trotting Grace ($2.10), also driven by Kyle Husted, took her 2-year-old filly trot in 1:59.2 at 1 to 9 odds. The second division favorite Maui Mama ($2.60, Casey Leonard) made it five in a row for trainer Mike Brink but her winning margin was only a neck decision over Fox Valley Unleash in the 1:59.4 mile.
Anna’s Lucky Star ($2.40) was on cruise control as she continued her domination of the 3-year-old ICF filly trot division, taking leg four of the Beulah Dygert Memorial stake in 1:56.2 with regular driver Kyle Wilfong. The Terry Winemiller trained filly is now 8 for 10 on the season for Salem, Illinois owner Danny Graham.
Fox Valley Jazzy (Ridge Warren) held off the late charge of the pocket horse Rollin Coal (Casey Leonard) and captured the first Incredible Tillie stake for ICF freshman filly pacers by a head in 1:55.1.
Owned by Cathy Finn Kanitz and trained by Dale Kanitz, Fox Valley Jazzy’s victory in the fourth leg of the series was her third in a row and her fifth in her last six starts.
The Steve Searle Stable’s The New Americana ($2.40, Mike Oosting) bounced back from her third place finish in last week’s third series stake leg with a 1 and 1/4 length win over Allbeastnobeauty in Friday’s second Incredible Tillie division with a 1:54.3 mile. She’s now 6 for 10 in her freshman campaign.
Bucklegirl Bobette (Kyle Wilfong) swept past Whiskersonkittens in deep stretch to win the Maurello Prep for state-bred fillies and mares in 1:53.2. It was the sixth season victory for the Bob Walker trained 4-year-old mare.
A Nervous Night for Some Filly Owners
By Mike Paradise
No doubt there are some nervous owners and trainers sending out their 2-year-old pacing or trotter ICF fillies for tonight’s fourth and final legs of the Incredible Tillie or the Fox Valley Flan stake series.
They’ll know after two $16,000 divisions of each freshman filly stake is in the history book, if they are racing for a lucrative (est.) $120,000 Incredible Tillie purse and a $90,000 Fox Valley Flan purse on next Saturday’s Night of Champions in a final, or a much more modest $20,000 pot in a consolation event.
Only the top 10 series point earners will make a championship field.
The Dale Kanitz Stable’s Fox Valley Jazzy (Ridge Warren) is on top of the Incredible Tillie Point Standings (Four Footed Fotos).
The Incredible Tillie Point Standings heading into tonight’s fourth legs have two-time series winner Fox Valley Jazzy at 125, followed by Rollin Coal at 87, The New Americana at 74, Lex Two and Allbeastnobeauty at 58 each, Shelby Rae at 38, Red Hot Packerette and Frontier Cruzin at 37 each.
No. 9 Incrediblenasty could be in good shape with 27 and then it’s a crap-shoot. The Sis Master is tenth with 13, followed by Fox Valley Miranda and JB’s Shooting Star with 10 each. Even Jazzy Bern (7), Poppy Seed (7) and Fancy Creek Annie (5), are still a possibility to make the final.
Meanwhile in the Fox Valley Flan standings the top five are: Good Design (150), Trotting Grace (75), Maui Mama (62), E L Miss Kaibra (55), Fox Valley Winnie (28), are championship “locks.”
No. 6 Frontier Jackie, with 27 didn’t enter leg four, but still could enter for the championship. Lous Silver Star and White Pants Fever have 25 apiece going into tonight and probably can be penciled in the final.
Then it gets very dicey. No. 9 Powerful Temptrist has 11 points, No. 10 Undeniable Emotion has 10 and No. 11 Honey In A Hurry has 9.
The Plum Peachy stake series point standings for ICF 3-year-old pacing fillies is cloudy because two of the top ten fillies, No. 3 Filly Forty (83) and No. 9 Rousey Ronda (30) didn’t enter tonight’s fourth leg divisions and things are pretty jammed-up from tenth place down.
Boogie On Down and Lady’s Party share the top spot with 87 points earned. No. 4 Fancy Creek Jolene has 76, Princess Sage has 63, A Real Doozie has 58, and Fox Valley Dandy’s 51 points has him at No. 7, followed by My Mona Me at 35.
No. 10 Fox Valley Dududidudu is on “the bubble” at 29. Right behind her are Fox Valley Cheriz (26), Ashlee’s Cocktail (21). In striking position are My Kind Of Dance (13) and C Far (10).
The championship field for Beulah Dygert Memorial stake is a done-deal. Tonight’s prep field will all move on, headed by last year’s division champion Annas Lucky Star (Kyle Wilfong), who will bring a six-race winning streak into Friday’s second race.
Posts two through five in the trotting prep, will be manned by Daisy Lou Duke (Kyle Husted), Lous Credit Report (Mike Oosting), Beatrice (Casey Leonard) and Fox Valley Elana (Tim Curtin).
Ironically, their post positions tonight, match-up in the same order as they are listed in the Dygert point standings.
The seventh race Maurello Prep, will serve as a good preview of next week’s $50,000 for ICF pacing mares. Here’s how they’ll line-up in post position tonight with morning line odds:
Bucklegirl Bobette (Kyle Wilfong), Whiskersonkittens (Kyle Husted), Phyllis Jean (Juan Franco), State Street Liz (Jason Brewer), Art Angel Baby (Ridge Warren), Joyful Game (Rick Dane Jr), Fox Valley Charm (Mike Oosting) and LK’s Nancy Lee (Casey Leonard).
Much the Best: The Pennsylvania invader Tricky Nick ($2.60) cruised to a 3 and 1 /2 length victory in last night’s $15,000 Plesac Prep. The 1-5 favorite trotted the mile in 1:55.1 for driver Jim Pantaleano. Ants Iner Pants was second best while the 30-1 longshot Kickitinwithkohler finished third.
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