from Hawthorne Racecourse

Stickney, IL — Go Go Gabby, the third choice in the first division of the second leg of the Silhouette Star at Hawthorne, extended her record to a perfect three-for-three in 2006, trotting the mile in a new lifetime best of 1:58.4 and earning first place honors in the Silhouette Star Eliminations.

She took the lead quickly, built up a two length lead in the stretch, then had to withstand the late move of second choice Miss Imperial to win by a head. Along the way, she set fractions of :29.3, 1:00.1, and 1:30.4.

Odds-on favorite Tomato broke stride early and even though she recovered and got up to second in the stretch, she was unable to sustain her bid and ultimately faded to fourth.

With the $6,000 earned from this race, Go Go Gabby, owned by Roger Welch, Robert Rietveld and Phillip Rietveld and trained by Roger Welch, boosted her lifetime earnings to $98,559.

Fox Valley Shimmy, parked early after starting from the nine hole, took the lead approaching the half and never looked back in the second division of the Silhouette Star. This was the first lifetime victory for the daughter of International Chip. Owned by Paula Smith, Kenneth Spurlock, James Runyan and Tripoli Stable and trained by Amanda Smith, this filly got the mile in 1:59.2 after fractions of :30.4, 1:00, and 1:29.2 and, with the win, increased her earnings to $81,795.

Peaceful Victory raced in second from the first quarter on but never seriously challenged for the win. Favored Fox Valley Amber broke stride around the three-quarter mark and never really recovered.

These fillies will meet next Saturday, June 3, in Hawthorne’s second Night of Champions and race for a purse of $49,000.

The top 11 to qualify for the Silhouette Star Final (there was a tie for 10th) are: Go Go Gabby ($10,000), Fox Valley Shimmy ($8,000), Tomato ($4,960), Peaceful Victory ($3,640), Miss Imperial ($3,000), Phil McRackin ($2,600), Hi Tri ($1,840), Giant Jelly Bean ($1,560), Cherry Lane Star ($1,440), Fox Valley Go Girl ($960) and Alesha Marie ($960).

The purses for the other six finals have also been set, and are as follows: THE BRANDENBURG (3-year-old c&g trot) $47,500; THE PLUM PEACHY (3-year-old filly pace) $47,500; THE HOT HEAD (3-year-old c&g pace) $45,000; THE EDDIE OAKLEY (older trot) $48,000 est.; THE LOYAL OPPOSITION (older mare pace) $48,000; and THE JIMMYS PILOT (older male pace) $53,500.

Hawthorne’s spring 2006 Standardbred meet runs May 6 through June 17 with live racing six days per week — Tuesday through Sunday. Post time is 7:20 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.