The rising Illinois bred star filly Amy Mooss (Matt Avenatti) takes on some of her chief division rivals Saturday at Du Quoin. (Terry Young Photo)

 By Mike Paradise for the I.H.H.A. 

 Contests for Illinois horses nominated to Hawthorne’s Night of Champion series continue to take center stage on the Du Quoin one-mile oval Saturday.

 While its very early in the season today’s third race is a unique opportunity to see three of the very best in the ICF sophomore pacing filly division square off with Amy Mooss (Matt Avenatti), Hypeyourbestieup (Travis Seekman) and Fox Valley Sadie (Kyle Husted) all going postward.

 The talented trio each have won three of the last five starts and if this was a betting (it isn’t) it would be difficult to determine which filly would be the favorite.

 A week ago, the Dane May trained Amy Mooss bounced back from a second-place finish to Fox Valley Sadie with a romping six- and one-half length triumph in 1:54 clocking for owner Alen Beals of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Somestarsomewhere filly drew nicely Saturday with the two-slot.

 The Jamaica Patton barn’s Hypeyourbestieup won a division of the Violet last month before going to Oak Grove with the lure much bigger purses than here in Illinois. After being locked-in in her July 9 start after a brutal 26 first quarter, driver Brandon Bates took no chances of that recurring, putting the Somestarsomewhere filly on the front end where she cruised to a four-plus length win in 1:52.4 in a $25,000 conditioned event.

 Meanwhile, after trading victories with Amy Mooss, Fox Valley Sadie never had a chance to show her ability in her race last week at Hoosier Park. The Time To Roll filly lagged the gate and was almost 17 lengths behind at the 26.2 first quarter pole, ending up last by almost 13 lengths.

 Owned by Jamaica and fellow Mississippian native Cedric Daniels, Hypeyourbestieup starts in the middle of the field with the four.

 Also coming back Saturday to compete in his home state is the gifted 3-year-old gelding Guitar Man (Travis Seekman) from the barn of conditioner Rob Rittof. Another Somestarsomewere offspring, Guitar Man has the ability to give the defending division champion Gorgeous Big Guy all he can handle.

 Ironically, both superb 3-year-olds are owned by Doug Overhiser of New Smyma Beach, FL and Mark Winship (Canton, IL).

 Guitar Man sped to a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2 at Oak Grove in his last start and he did it all on his own. Saddled with the second tier 9-hole, driver Marus Miller took him out of fourth in the early going after a quick 26 flat first quarter, made the top at the 55 half, and had something left at the finish of nearly three length victory.

 Friday’s Recap: A trio of races for ICF filly pacers nominated to the NOC series kicked off the Friday Du Quoin card with first-time starter Jezibel Mooss getting it done the hard way. The Gary Rath Somestarsomewhere trainee raced without cover from the backside on for Matt Avenatti and still won easily in 1:56.4 over runner-up Fox Valley Groupie (Travis Seekman).

 Wildcat Abby, driven by Casey Leonard, took the second division in no-doubt-about-it fashion (4 and one-half lengths) while racing on the front end for the first time. The Captain Trevor filly took a new mark of 1:55.3. pacing a quick 26.3 last panel. for trainer Roshun Trigg

 Catch-driver Juan Franco gave Fox Valley Mygirl a winning pocket trip in the third split for owner and trainer Chares Arthur of Terry, Mississippi. The 1:57.2 mile was more than three seconds better than her previous best time for the daughter of Time To Roll.

 Dandy’s Princess, nicely handled by Travis Seekman, dominated the state-bred 2-year-old trot division by over eight in 1:59 flat. The Erv Miller trained filly, sired by New Jersey Mike, was bred by Dandy Farms Breeding and Ft Racing Sable of Illinois.

 The freshman pacing colt divisions were next with The Toddfather completely crushing his seven foes by more 10 lengths for driver Juan Franco with his 1:54.1 mile. Britney Dillion trains the Captain Trevor gelding,

Hart Walker’s Battlin Bob made it 2-for-2 in his young career with Travis Seekman at the lines, winning by three lengths in 1:56.1. PD’S Diamond Hope (Wyatt Avenatti) coasted to his second straight victory in the third split by a widening 8 and ½ lengths, knocking off almost three seconds from his last winning time for trainer Kevin Miller.

 The Curt Grummel ‘s star filly trotter Whiskey Lou had no trouble cruising to her sixth consecutive win and stayed unbeaten with Casey Leonard in the bike as a 3-year-old. The mile went in 1:55.3