Race 1 – $50,000 Tony Maurello Championship
The card opens with a full field of long-time mare pacers in the Tony Maurello Championship. This wide-open event is headlined by last weekend’s elimination winners, Scorecard Dandy and Fox Valley Tessa. Scorecard Dandy, the 2024 Illinois-bred old mare pacing champion, enters the finals looking to surpass $500,000 in career earnings with a win. The seven-year-old mare is trained by Greg Kain and has won 30 times in her career from 129 starts. She took last week’s elimination from the front when rider Kyle Wilfong returned to the bike. Next to Scorecard, Dandy is last year’s champion for the three-year-old filly, Fox Valley Tessa, from the stable of Amy Husted. Fox Valley Tessa has won seven times in 2025 and is the Trackmaster 5-2 morning line favorite for driver Kyle Husted.
Race 2 – $118,000 Kadabra Championship
The first of the youth finals takes place in race two, in which two-year-old male trotters compete in the Kadabra Championship. As a heavy 7-5 favorite in the morning line, Fox Valley Snapper from the stable of trainer Erv Miller enters. A winner of five of six to open his career, Fox Valley Snapper has shown versatility by winning races at the front early in his career and rallying late on last week’s final stage for driver Marcus Miller. The Fox Valley Snapper’s biggest threat could come from Zoomster, for trainer Dennis Gardner. Zoomster has won two of his last three and was impressive in last week’s final stage. He reached the top from the start and rolled clear to a score of almost 12 lengths. Travis Seekman rides Zoomster in Saturday’s final.
Race 3 – $110,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship
Two-year-old female trotters line up for the Fox Valley Flan Championship as a few fillies look to stand out from the rest. Trainer Tom Simmons sends out 2-1 favorite Shady Maple Chick, with driver Casey Leonard on the bike. Shady Maple Chick is a winner of nine of 13 to open her career and draws post three in Saturday’s final. Her main competition comes from another Erv Miller intern at Fox Valley Gimlet. Fox Valley Gimlet has won four of six starts, including last weekend’s final leg. Marcus Miller drives.
Race 4 – $50,000 Carl Becker Memorial Championship
Senior female trotters line up in a packed field for the Carl Becker Memorial Championship as the likely favorite will have to try to overcome a tough outside draw. Whiskey Lou, last year’s champion three-year-old filly, finished in tenth place in the Saturday final for trainer Curt Grummel. After winning 13 of 14 starts last year as a three-year-old, Whiskey Lou has won seven of 17 races in 2025, both in-state and out-of-state. She took last week’s elimination in impressive fashion as Marcus Miller rode again.
Race 5 – $50,000 Phil Langley Memorial Championship
Old male pacers will go head-to-head in the Phil Langley Memorial Championship in one of the most open events of the evening. After campaigns at two and three with mixed results, Fox Valley Kodiak has come into its own this season for trainer Nelson Willis. Fox Valley Kodiak, a 10-time winner on the year from 20 starts, returned to Illinois last week to take on the elimination ahead of driver Kyle Wilfong. His biggest threat could come from the speedy He’zzz A Wise Sky, who took home honors as the best male pacer last year. With career earnings approaching $1 million, He’zzz A Wise Sky has won 62 times in his career, from 162 starts for trainer John Filomeno. Casey Leonard will ride with He’zzz A Wise Sky on Saturday.
Race 6 – $110,000 Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial Championship
Three-year male pacers compete in the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial Championship as one of the more dominant horses on the circuit looks to end his fine season with a victory. Cash Money Twenty, the 2024 Illinois Horse of the Year, is looking for back-to-back titles as a 9-5 favorite in Saturday’s final. Cash Money Twenty was a winner of 11 of 12 as a two-year-old and has won eight times from 13 starts in 2025. He has won his last three starts as regular rider Casey Leonard returns to the bike. His biggest threat could come from Battlin Bob for trainer Robert Walker. Battlin Bob is a six-time winner of the year and has finished in the top three in all thirteen starts this season. Travis Seekman rides again.
Race 7 – Incredible $142,000 Tillie Championship
The richest race of the evening takes place in the Incredible Tillie Championship, where nine two-year-old fillies look to upset a likely heavy favorite from Erv Miller’s barn. Fox Valley Fastrak is a winner of seven of eight to open her career and is the 2-1 pick in the morning line with Marcus Miller on the bike. A short break between starts didn’t seem to slow Fox Valley Fastrak as he won the final stage at the front last week. The interior artist is Fox Valley Tamara for trainer Tom Simmons. Powered by Brandon Bates, Fox Valley Tamara was a game winner in last week’s final stage, posting a new career mark of 1:56.1.
Race 8 – Incredible final championship worth $138,000
The race for the title of best two-year-old male pacer would also likely come down to a trainer with the last name Miller. This time, however, it is trainer Kevin Miller who sends ten-time winner Fox Valley Onassis. Finding the board in all 14 starts to open up his career, Fox Valley Onassis has been a model of consistency. Wyatt Avenatti drives as the speedy pacer pulls post two. The biggest threats to Fox Valley Onassis could come from the duo Mighty Engine or Dandy’s Beach, winners of last week’s final stage divisions.
Race 9 – $50,000 Plesac Championship
Seven old male trotters will participate in the Plesac Championship in a place where several horses have a great chance. The big favorite is last week’s elimination winner, Lous Lancelot, ahead of driver and trainer James Lackey. Lous Lancelot, 21 times winner in his career, was impressive at the front last week and was able to regain control of the pace. His biggest threat could come from 40-time winner Lousraptor for trainer Jill Brown. A tough ride resulted in a poor finish last week, but the inside draw could be beneficial with Casey Leonard on the bike.
Race 10 – $116,000 Plum Peachy Championship
The country’s second-winningest pacer in 2025 will headline the Plum Peachy Championship for three-year-old fillies as Fox Valley Lava looks for her 18th.e win of 2025. Fox Valley Lava, trained by Kevin Miller, enters the Night of Champions finals on a four-race win streak, including an impressive score in last week’s final stage. Brandon Bates pilots the 2-1 favorite in the morning line. Fox Valley Jasmine is perhaps the biggest threat to Fox Valley Lava, but will have to overcome a difficult outside post draw. Trained by Erv Miller and piloted by Marcus Miller, Fox Valley Jasmine has found the board in all 17 starts on the year, nine of them as wins.
Race 11 – $88,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship
Three-year-old male trotters will compete in the Erwin F. Dygert Memorial, as it will take a major effort to upset the favorite here. Sunburnt Silverado, who draws post five as the 6-5 morning line choice for trainer Curt Grummel, enters the finals after a strong win in last week’s final leg. Winner of nine of the year’s fourteen starts, Kyle Wilfong takes over driving duties in the final with Sunburnt Silverado. Frontier Macho poses the biggest threat to upset the favorite if he can conquer the nine holes ahead of driver Casey Leonard and trainer Tom Simmons. Frontier Macho was a six-time winner in 2025 and was a solid second behind Sunburnt Silverado in last week’s final stage.
Race 12 – $83,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial
The evening ends with three-year-old fillies in the Beulah Dygert Memorial with a wide open field of ten. Lou’s My Number, the 2024 Illinois two-year-old champion, is the 8-5 favorite in this year’s finals. Lou’s My Number, trained by Steve Searle and piloted by Casey Leonard, got back on track on last week’s final stage to take a solid win in the best time of his career. Kays in Charge won seven times this year for trainer Tom Simmons. She was well out on the final stage last week and rallied late to finish third. A more favorable final place could work in her favor.
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s hometown track, is open daily for full-card simulcasting and sports betting at the Fanatics Sportsbook. The summer Thoroughbred competition started on March 27 and lasted until November 2. The winter harness season started on November 7 and ends on February 15. Visit our website for all information about Hawthorne Race Course. www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.
For full race entries, click here: American Trotting Entries
By Hawthorne Racecourse
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