from the Hawthorne Racecourse Publicity Department

Stickney, IL — The Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Trot, carrying a purse of $100,900, will take place as the tenth race of Suburban Downs at Hawthorne’s 12 race card on Friday night (June 17).

The morning line favorite, Tanah Merah Farms LLC’s Fox Valley Flan, drew post position seven. This talented mare had been a track record holder briefly last year, but she set a new track record last Friday in her Dygert elimination. In fact, she trotted the fastest mile by any filly or mare ever at Hawthorne. Trained by Ervin Miller and driven by Dave Magee, she was pegged by the linemaker at 3-1.

Jo Anne and Dan Shetler, Jr. and Mitchell Rosenthal’s Mr McNally, who won the other Dygert elimination, drew the rail. Interestingly, he stopped the clock in the same time in his elimination, 1:53.3, as Fox Valley Flan and also set a track record in the process. Tabbed at 4-1, he is once again scheduled to be driven and trained by Dan Shetler.

Millionaire Million Dollar Bye, who was favored in his elimination but beaten by Fox Valley Flan and finished fourth, was installed as the 5-1 fourth choice. Trained and driven by Joe Anderson and owned by Anderson Racing and Thomas Lewandowski, this brilliant nine-year-old has already won 12 of 15 races this year, with earnings of well over $100,000.

Two members of last year’s Dygert are scheduled to race in this year’s edition.

Dink Adoo, second to Fox Valley Flan in their elimination, drew the nine. This six-year-old is trained by Ken Rucker and will be driven by Brent Holland. Owners, the Panhellenic STB Corp, hope he can better his sixth place finish in this race last year. Dink Adoo is 9-2 in the line.

Mr Mackintosh, owned by Sandbur Farms and Valerie Sutton, finished fourth in last year’s edition of the Dygert. But, trainer Doug Hamilton and driver Dale Hiteman have some work cut out for them if they expect to equal or exceed last year’s effort. Mr Mackintosh hasn’t been in the best of form this year and needs dramatic improvement.

Armbro Approach missed by a head to Mr McNally in his last. Owned and trained by Jeff Miller, he drew the two and was placed at 8-1 in the morning line.

Muscles Marinara was the slowest of the qualifiers in the two eliminations. He hasn’t won this year, but he does keep Tony Morgan in the bike. The Gandolfo Stables and Lenny Zelin, along with trainer Jessica Stevens, hope that he’ll be able to surprise. He’s 12-1 in the line.

Doug Ackerman Stables Inc.’s Coventry led for much of his elimination, but faded to fourth in the stretch. He should be in good position once again and could bounce back with a stronger effort. Projected to go off at 10-1, he could be the surprise of the night.

Harmony Spring Stable’s Sweet Deal Hanover has been on a roll all year, finishing first or second in 10 of his 12 2005 races. Driver Michael Oosting has been hot and he could give this five-year-old the perfect trip for trainer Perry Smith. Sweet Deal Hanover is 8-1 in the line.

Full Count drew the 10 hole. Driven and trained by Martin Wollam and owned by Polichena Motors Inc., Anthony Minute, and Acadia Farms Inc., he’ll need a lot of racing luck to score from here. He’s 20-1 in the morning line.