Hinsdale, IL — Illinois champion He’zzz A Wise Sky was given a shrewd drive by Kyle Wilfong and the result was a 1-3/4 length victory in Hawthorne’s $11,100 Open Pace Monday night (Nov. 27).

He’zzz A Wise Sky was a convincing winner in Monday’s Open Pace at Hawthorne. Four Footed Fotos.

Sent off as the 7-5 second choice, the 6-year-old speedball raced in his usual front-end style but after a :56 first half Wilfong asked He’zzz A Wize Sky to step things up for the third quarter and the John Filomeno trainee did, going from a one length lead to being four lengths ahead with a quick :27.3 panel on a cold (21 degree) night.

He’zzz A Wise Sky ($4.80) only needed a :29 last quarter to hold off the even-money favorite Ilikemebettor A (Cordarius Stewart) and the two-hole pacer Play Me Rock (Travis Seekman), the second and third place finishers, in that order.

The victory snapped a three-race losing streak and was the ninth win on the season for the Yankee Skyscaper homebred owned by Triple ZZZ Stable. He’zzz A Wise Sky showed that he is probably just as fast in the turns as he is in the straightaways when he increased his 2023 bankroll to $126,886 and his lifetime earnings to just under $650,000 in less than five full seasons of racing.

In Monday’s secondary feature $8,000 conditioned pace for non-winners of $4,001 in their last four starts, the even-money favorite Tookadiveoffdipper (Casey Leonard) found the drop out of the Open ranks a winning move for trainer Jim Eaton and owner Jane Cross.

With RJ Rocks a late scratch, Leonard sent Tookadiveoffdipper away from the outside five-slot and the 9-year-old gelding was three-deep throughout the first turn before settling on top with Brandon Hanover (Todd Warren) taking the pocket.

A :28.2 first quarter on the chilly night was needed to have command and Tookadiveoffdipper ($4.00) wasn’t challenged through the :56.3 half. Casey slowed things down with the Always A Virgin gelding in the third quarter while Brandon Bates took Julerica out from fourth and went after the leader.

Julerica closed the gap between the two to one length at the three-quarter pole (1:26.1), however Tookadiveoffdipper took off and drew away from the field, four-plus lengths the best in the 1:55 mile. Marshall Malone (Travis Seekman) came from last to win the photo for second over Julerica.

Tookadiveoffdipper’s win was the first of four consecutive first place finishes for driver Casey Leonard.