Trotters were featured on Sunday evening at Hawthorne as juvenile trotters kicked off the night in the Cardinal eliminations. The Cardinal is for Illinois-bred harness racing two-year-old colt and gelding trotters as a field of nine was set to meet the starter after the scratch of Two News. Favored was Vic's Pizza for driver-trainer Mike Brink. Getting away quickly from the outside was Jiggle the Handle, clearing the lead through :30.1. After a half in 1:oo.3, the 99-1 shot Jiggle The Handle maintained the lead. On the turn, Mt Erie Mafia took over, through three quarters in 1:32.0. In the lane, Jared Finn kept after Mt Erie Mafia, as he held sway, winning in 2:01.2. Fox Valley Strpwr was second while Krispy K finished third. Mt Erie Mafia is trained by J D Finn.
Race two was the first of two divisions of the Violet eliminations for Illinois-bred two-year-old filly trotters as a field of eight took to the track. Favored was Good Design with Kyle Wilfong in the bike as they looked for consecutive wins to open her career. Making the lead from the inside was Sunny Sasha through a quarter in :30.3. On the backside, Jared Finn and Sunny Sasha kept the lead, trotting the half in 1:01.2. On the far turn, longshot New Queen moved to challenge but Sunny Sasha kept her lead, covering three quarters in 1:31.4. In the lane, Sunny Sasha was all out as Maui Mama cruised up on the outside for Casey Leonard to catch her on the wire. Good Design finished third. Final time for the mile was 2:00.3. Maui Mama is owned by H W Wright and trained by Mike Brink.
Race three on Sunday was the second division of the Violet eliminations as eight lined up behind the starter. Favored was E L Miss Kaibra with Mike Oosting driving. Getting away for the lead was the favorite, making the quarter in :30.3. On the backstretch, longshot Frontier Jackie assumed the lead, as E L Miss Kaibra broke stride. The half was in 1:01.4 as Trotting Grace took over. After three quarters in 1:31.4, Trotting Grace opened up in the lane for Kyle Husted, winning by daylight in 2:00.4. Lous Silver Star finished second while Fox Valley Winnie was third. Trotting Grace is trained by Steve Searle.
Race five was leg two action in the Beulah Dygert Memorial Trot for Illinois-bred three-year-old fillies as a field of ten took to the track. The favorite from the outside was Anna Lucky Star with Kyle Wilfong driving. Making the lead was Daisy Lou Duke from the rail, through the opening quarter in :29.4. On the backstretch, Lous Game N Match moved to press the leader as Daisy Lou Duke held her lead through the half in :59.3. On the turn, Kyle Husted kept Daisy Lou Duke up top, covering three quarters in 1:29.2. In the lane, Daisy Lou Duke battled but could not hold off the favorite as Annas Lucky Star rolled by in the final sixteenth to win in 1:57.0. Daisy Lou Duke held second while Fox Valley Ella was third. Annas Lucky Star is owned by Danny Graham and trained by Nelson Willis.
Race eight on Sunday was leg two of the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Trot for Illinois-bred three-year-old colts and geldings. The heavy favorite from the field of eleven was Louscipher with Casey Leonard in the bike. Making the early lead was Trixie's Jethro for Jared Finn through the opening quarter in :30 and the half in :59.4. Into the turn, Trixie's Jethro continued to lead, pushed by Picky Picky Valor through three quarters in 1:29.1. Late in the lane, Trixie's Jethro gave way as favored Louscipher rolled up on the outside and drew clear, winning in 1:56.4. Picky Picky Valor got up for second while Muscle Image finished third. Louscipher is owned by Flacco Family Farms LLC and trained by Roshun Trigg.
Multi-Win Evenings
Drivers – Casey Leonard (2 Wins), Tyler Shehan (2 Wins), James Lackey (2 Wins)
Race Winners
Race 1 – Mt Erie Mafia (2:01.2)
Race 2 – Maui Mama (2:00.2)
Race 3 – Trotting Grace (2:00.4)
Race 4 – Uncle Si (1:54.1)
Race 5 – Annas Lucky Star (1:57.0)
Race 6 – Blissful Pansy (1:53.1)
Race 7 – Fox Valley Ruby (1:55.0)
Race 8 – Louscipher (1:56.4)
Race 9 – Shotski (1:55.3)
Race 10 – I Could Care Less (1:55.3)
Jim Miller