Mike Paradise

And Then There Were Two

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By Mike Paradise
Freshman pacers Gabe Henry and Sporty Redhot stayed perfect in the $15,000 Incredible Finale Pacing Series for ICF 2-year-old pacing males with third leg victories. Both youngsters were driven by Todd Warren.

Gabe Henry (Todd Warren) stayed perfect in the Incredible Finale Series. (Four Footed Photo)

Gabe Henry (Todd Warren) stayed perfect in the Incredible Finale Series. (Four Footed Photo)

Gabe Henry’s third consecutive victory came at the expense of Fox Valley Jeter who won his first two series legs but Sunday night had to settle for second behind the Tom Graham Jr. trained home-bred owned by Carol Graham of Salem, Illinois.
Gabe Henry ($3.60) was nestled into fifth in the early going in the third race initial series leg with Sork taking the field to a 29 first quarter and a 57.4 half. Warren had Gabe Henry on the move on the backside and when Fox Valley Sparty popped out of the pocket, Warren followed that horse up for the stretch drive.
Once there Gabe Henry pulled away to almost a two length victory of Fox Valley Jeter with a 1:57.1 clocking on a sloppy track. Fox Valley Sparta finished third.
Sporty Redhot (Todd Warren) lived up to his name again Sunday night. (Four Footed Photo)

Sporty Redhot (Todd Warren) lived up to his name again Sunday night. (Four Footed Photo)

In the next division Warren Hustled the prohibitive 2-5 favorite Sporty Redhot out at the start taking a quick lead before giving it up to the 15-1 longshot Spirited Encounter in the first turn.
Warren was satisfied to race Sporty Redhot in the two-hole through fractions of 29.1 and 58 flat before tipping his pacer out in the last turn. In the lane Sporty Redhot ($2.80) powered into the lead and then dug in to give his trainer Kim Roth a Happy Birthday present, this one a 1:56.4 winning mile.
The 45-1 longshot Fox Valley Reggie grabbed second, beaten a half-length. Fox Valley Inferno was third.
The unbeaten Sporty Redhot is owned by Al Beals of Berwyn, Illinois and now has $20,000 on his first season card.
A few races later the track was changed to “good” when the Joel Smith trained Fox Valley Nemitz ($9.60) proved best in the third $15,000 Incredible Finale division for driver Dale Hiteman in a 1:57.2 mile.
Owned by Fox Valley Standardbreds of Sherman, Illinois, the son of Richess Hanover rallied past the favorite Sullivan and posted a three-quarter length triumph. Uptown Sleaze was third.
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