Unlike the 2024 event where rained poured down upon Night of Champions at Hawthorne, the 2025 edition was welcomed by a gorgeous weather evening with unseasonably warm temperatures. A fast track led to top performances during the $1.1 million, 12-race Night of Champions card at Hawthorne. The evening also marked a milestone for trainer Erv Miller.
Author: by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne RaceCourse
She’s A Bulldog, Gentleman’s Club upset in Fall Final Four Paces
Heavy favorites in the Three Diamonds and Governor’s Cup suffered defeats over a “good” track on Saturday night (Nov. 15) at The Meadowlands with one chalk bested by a winless rival and another by a headstrong pacesetter at double-digit odds.
Diabolic Hill, All Time Trot S rally in rookie trots
Freshman trotters Diabolic Hill and All Time Trot S took similar paths to victory in the Grade 1 Valley Victory and Goldsmith Maid, respectively, on Saturday (Nov. 15) at the Meadowlands, yielding for close stalking trips before emerging in the homestretch to post gutsy wins over tough pacesetting rivals.
Maximus Miki, Lexus Kody win FanDuel Open Championships
Maximus Miki and driver Scott Zeron won Saturday’s $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Pace Championship by 1-3/4 lengths over Ken Hanover in a stakes-record-equaling 1:47.3, followed three races later by Lexus Kody and Yannick Gingras capturing the $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Trot Championship by 2-1/4 lengths over Periculum in 1:51, both over a “good” track at The Meadowlands.
Surreal Ideal wins eighth straight
Saturday night (Nov. 15) Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway crowned one of the Midwest’s best open pacers, the same night they honor one the area’s greats.
Miki And Minnie marvels against mares, M-M’s Dream supreme in FanDuel Championships
Chris Ryder’s sophomore filly icon Miki And Minnie trounced older competition as the decisive favorite in the $175,000 Grade 2 FanDuel Championship Mare Pace on Saturday (Nov. 15) at The Meadowlands. M-M’s Dream won earlier on the card in her Big M swan song in the $175,000 Grade 2 FanDuel Championship Mare Trot.
El Toro Loco, Stranger Things splash to Batavia wins
Two top class events were featured at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 15) night and despite the extremely inclement weather conditions, both winners turned in very impressive performances.
Bank On Me leads feature winners at Pocono
An invader from Kentucky, Bank On Me, had to trot his last half in :55.2 uncovered, but the Chapter Seven three-year-old gelding was up to the challenge and recorded a 1:55 victory in the $17,500 feature on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 15) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Sunshine Stakes at Sunshine Meadows recap
The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association continued their Sunshine State Stakes program at Sunshine Meadows Equestrian Village on Saturday (Nov. 15) with programs scheduled each remaining Saturday during November.
Countdown to the Prix d’Amerique
Now the countdown to the Prix d’Amerique begins.