STICKNEY, IL – Unlike the 2024 harness racing event, which saw rain during the Night of Champions in Hawthorne, the 2025 edition was welcomed with a beautiful weather evening with unseasonably warm temperatures. A fast course led to top performances during the $1.1 million, 12-race Night of Champions card at Hawthorne. The evening was also a milestone for trainer Erv Miller.
Race 1 – Bombay Parkway from the clouds in Maurello
The Night of Champions card kicked off with the $50,000 Tony Maurello Memorial Championship for veteran fillies and mare pacers. Early on they were long shots when Kizzmelikeumissme broke free from the outside and passed the opening quarter in:28.1. At the back she faced a challenge from Hypeyourbestie and passed the half in: 55.2. In the turn, second choice Scorecard Dany rose to the challenge, with a trio covering three quarters in 1:24.0. As the long shot speed disappeared into the lane, Scorecard Dandy took over while My Daddy’s Revenge and Bombay Parkway came free. They were three at the other end, with Bombay Parkway’s late rally rising in time to win by one and a half lengths for driver Brandon Bates in 1:53.1. My Daddy’s Revenge came in second while Scorecard Dandy came in third. Bombay Parkway returned $5.20 to win as the 8-5 favorite for owner Ed Teefey and trainer Walter Haynes, Jr.
Race 2 – Go Go Go Chrome steals the Kadabra
The $118,000 Kadabra Championship for two-year-old fillies seemed like the perfect format for heavy favorite Fox Valley Snapper. However, things changed shortly after the start when Fox Valley Snapper entered the first corner. Getting away quickly was Go Go Go Chrome for driver Juan Franco, through a quarter in:28.2. Chased from the back by Zambony and Zoomster, Go Go Go Chrome maintained its lead through a half in :56.4 and three quarters in 1:26.1. In the track, Zoomster picked up the chase, but Go Go Go Chrome was long gone, rolling to a strong score of three and a quarter in 1:56.2. Zoomster was a clear second, while Fox Valley Sahbra rallied to finish third. As an 18-1 longshot, Go Go Go Chrome returned $39.40 to win for owners Ronald Phillips, Lyle Lipe and trainer Jamaica Patton.
Race 3 – Fox Valley Gimlet in record time
Two-year-old fillies contested the $110,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship, while Fox Valley Gimlet was sent off as the even money pick for driver Marcus Miller. In the beginning it was the speed of Shady Maple Chick, who passed the quarter in :28.4. At the back, longshot Pony Chrome met the challenge, along with a move from Fox Valley Cougar, as the leaders passed halftime in :57.0. In the corner Miller rode the favorite into position while Fox Valley Gimlet was three-quarters close behind the leaders in 1:26.4. Fox Valley Gimlet accelerated down the track to win by three-quarters of a length in a track record time for two-year-old fillies of 1:55.2. Unhynged Cadeau rallied late for the spot, while Shady Maple Chick came back around the inside to finish third. Fox Valley Gimlet returned $4.00 to win for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Inc., Anthony Lombardi and Final Turn. The win was career training victory number 6,999 for trainer Erv Miller.
Race 4 – Whiskey Lou with a Night of Champions replay
The $50,000 Carl Becker Memorial Championship for old fillies had some intrigue after the post draw, when heavy favorite and 2024 three-year-old filly champion, trotter Whiskey Lou, was dealt well outside the field of ten. With Lady Tru Grit’s expected pace down the inside, things changed early when she broke stride shortly after the start, allowing longshot Lous Amazon to take the lead through the quarter in :29.0. Driver Marcus Miller wasted no time with Whiskey Lou as he put the four-year-old mare on the back and took the lead at halftime in :57.1. Whiskey Lou maintained her lead through the turn, passing three-quarters in 1:26.2 as Peekaboo Sal picked up the chase along with Lous Amazon. In the track neither could challenge the favourite, while Whiskey Lou held sway, winning in 1:54.4. Lous Amazon was a game second, while Peekaboo Sal was third. Whiskey Lou returned $3.40 to win for owner Randy Wilt and trainer Curt Grummel.
Race 5 – Pace sets the race for Fox Valley Kodiak
The $50,000 Phil Langley Memorial Championship was a race that certainly packed a lot of speed and did not disappoint. Fox Valley Kodiak and He’zzz A Wise Sky battled through the opening quarter in :27.0. While Fox Valley Kodiak pulled back the deficit, He’zzz a Wise Sky couldn’t breathe as Fox Valley Julian pushed him through the half in quick time: 53.2. He’zzz A Wise Sky was still there for three quarters in 1:22.1 as Fox Valley Julian fell back. Fox Valley Kodiak and Kyle Wilfong took advantage of the pace battle as he moved outside the leaders and rallied to victory in 1:50.4. Beautiful Big Guy closed well late for a place, followed by Fox Valley Silent. Fox Valley Kodiak, owned by trainer Nelson Willis and Donna Kaye Kelly, returned $4.80 for the win.
Race 6 – The Horse of the Year wins again
At the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial, worth $110,000 for three-year-old stallions and geldings, was named Illinois Horse of the Year Cash Money Twenty in 2024 when he was sent off as the even-money favorite with Casey Leonard on the bike.
The dashing Cash Money Twenty wasted no time as he chased Dialogue for a quarter in :27.1 before taking over to lead the half in :55.0. Cash Money Twenty was chased into the far corner by Dialogue and Battlin Bob for three quarters in 1:24.0 and was woken up by Leonard at the top of the track and responded nicely. He opened midway and won in daylight in 1:51.2. Battlin Bob was a clear second, while Dialogue remained third. Cash Money Twenty returned $4.00 to win for owner Heart & Soul Racing and Casey Leonard for trainer Mike Brink.
Race 7 – Evening slippers with the upset
The richest race on the Night of Champions card was the $142,000 Incredible Tillie Championship for two-year-old fillies. Favorite was Fox Valley Fastrak for trainer Erv Miller. From the inside, Fox Valley Tamara took the lead, staying clear all quarter in :27.4. At the back, Fox Valley Polaris rose to the challenge as the duo crossed the halfway mark in :55.3. On the turn, Fox Valley Tamara came back to take over, while Fox Valley Fastrak advanced and fought three quarters in 1:24.1. Down the stretch, Fox Valley Fastrak took the lead as the two pacers fell back, but a new challenge came from Travis Seekman with 29-1 longshot Evening Slippers. Evening Slippers continued their rally and rolled past the favorite in the track, went clear and won in 1:53.1. Fox Valley Fastrak took second, while Dnt Touche Mymooss rallied to finish third. Evening Slippers returned $60.80 to win for owner David Arrenholz and trainer Amanda VanWinkle.
Race 8 – Another late rally due to an upset
The $138,000 Incredible Finale Championship for two-year-old male pacers looked like a matchup between favorites Fox Valley Onassis and Sleazy Captain. In the end the race was another disappointment. Sleazy Captain got away in good order and took the lead through the opening quarter in:28.1. Sleazy Captain was pushed by Mighty Engine through the half on the backstretch in :55.4 and fought into the turn. After three quarters in 1:23.1, Fox Valley Onassis and In a Minute gave chase. Halfway through the course it was driver Kyle Wilfong with Keyser Soze who arrived on the scene and overtook the trio to a victory in 1:52.2. Sleazy Captain came second while In a Minute finished third. Keyser Soze pays $19.00 to win and is owned by Benita Simmons for trainer Tom Simmons.
Race 9 – Lous Lancelot game in victory
The $50,000 Plesac Championship for older male trotters featured seven competitors, led by last week’s elimination winner Lous Lancelot for driver and trainer James Lackey. Departing for the top was the 2-5 favorite as Lackey guided him through the quarter in :28.1. Chased by Tankmetodennyland, chased into the bend, Lous Lancelot kept his lead for half in :57.1 and three quarters in 1:27.0. In the stretch Lousraptor and Heath Bar both gave chase, but Lous Lancelot was in the race and managed to win by half a length in 1:55.4. Heath Bar closed to finish second, while Lousraptor came third. James Lackey also owns the winner, who returned $2.80.
Race 10 – 7,000 wins for trainer Erv Miller
The $116,000 Plum Peachy Championship for 3-year-old fillies featured a match between Fox Valley Lava and Fox Valley Jasmine as trainer Erv Miller sought victory 7,000 in career training. Early in the race, An Angel Somewhere broke stride on the inside, allowing A Very Nice Dandy to break free on the outside and lead Fox Valley Jasmine past the quarter in :27.0. At the back, Fox Valley Lava moved through the half in:54.2 as Marcus Miller and Fox Valley Jasmine searched for space. After three quarters in 1:22.3, Fox Valley Lava led Fox Valley Groupie and Two Bean Dream onto the track as Miller and Fox Valley Jasmine looked for space. Fox Valley Jasmine dove in late in the stretch and rallied to win, ahead of Two Bean Dream in 1:52.3. Fox Valley Lava came third. The win marked Erv Miller’s training career No. 7,000 as Fox Valley Jasmine returned $6.40 to owners Final Turn, Mark Winship and John Schwarz, Jr.
Race 11 – The sunburned Silverado does not disappoint
The $88,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial for 3-year-old male trotters looked to cap off a strong season for Sunburnt Silverado, as he was sent off as the 1-5 pick with Kyle Wilfong on the engine. Early on, it was One Trip Chip who set the pace, passing the quarter in :30.0. The favorite followed the early leader and narrowly avoided some chaos on the backstretch when One Trip Chip broke stride, causing both DJs Midnight and Mustang Danny to also go off the pace as the field spread out behind the trio. After a 1:00.0 rest, Frontier Macho lined up to beat Sunburnt Silverado in the far turn. Frontier Macho led the field three quarters down the track in 1:29.0, with the favorite following every step. In the stretch, Wilfong Sunburnt guided Silverado out, took the lead and won clear in 1:58.1. Frontier Macho finished second while Mustang Danny recovered to finish third. Owned by Curt, Craig and Leo Grummel and driver Kyle Wilfong, Sunburnt Silverado is trained by Curt Grummel.
Race 12 – Lou is my number in the shadow of the wire
The final event on the Night of Champions card was the $83,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial for three-year-old fillies, as trainer Steve Searle fielded four starters, including favorite Lou’s My Number. It was another Searle competitor who set the early fractions as Lous Avalon took the lead, through a quarter in:28.4 and a half in:57.3. Lous Avalon was chased into the far turn by a pair of Curt Grummel trainees in Almost Home and Gypsy Rose Lou and led the field after three quarters in 1:27.1. On the track the pace dropped as Lou’s My Number was led to the front by Casey Leonard and rallied to win in 1:55.4. Kays In Charge closed late for one place, followed by What a Legacy. Lou’s My Number returned $3.60 to win.
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 results, click here: American trotting results
By Hawthorne Racecourse
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