Cicero, IL — Last weekend’s lengthy Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes card at Hawthorne Race Course produced some impressive victories by young state-bred pacers and trotters, and maybe the most notable was a track record performance by freshman Fox Valley Julian.

One of three Mike Brink trained winners on the program, Fox Valley Julian’s 1:52.1 mile with Casey Leonard at his lines was a Hawthorne track record for a 2-year-old male pacer, and the Somestarsomewhere gelding did it with a sizzling :26 final quarter.

Both Brink and Leonard believe there’s more in the tank once Fox Valley Julian becomes more controllable and learns to be a racehorse for his Steeleville, Ill., owner, James A. Hepp.

Fox Valley Julian got the attention of a lot of Prairie State fans when he romped by almost 10 lengths in 1:55 in just his second lifetime start, in mid-August. It was the first time Leonard drove the youngster. Nevertheless, the freshman’s next outing in a division of the Director’s Cup was a disappointment. Fox Valley Julian did well to be a non-threatening third after racing 11th and last at the half, about a dozen lengths behind the victorious heavy favorite Guitar Man, who paced a 1:51.3 mile.

“He just wasn’t manageable that day,” said Leonard. ”I don’t know if he was distracted or what. He was just a handful to drive. However, last Sunday he was much better. Mike did some rigging changes with him. Give him the credit for the horse’s strong performance.”

Fox Valley Julian’s dam is the Jate Lobell broodmare Theladyappealstome, a name that may be familiar to those who follow the Illinois circuit. Her second foal was Fox Valley Topaz, the only Illinois-bred Breeders Crown champion, winning the 2007 filly pacing final as a 2-year-old.

The Fox Valley Standardbred broodmare also delivered Fox Valley Appeal (1:50), Fox Valley Escort (1:53.4), and Maximus (1:50.4) to the Illinois racing circuit.

Fox Valley Julian will get back to work Sunday evening (Sept. 17) in the third race for Illinois-conceived and -foaled 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He’ll leave from post six with Leonard in a seven-horse field.

“I put him in to get more racing experience,” said Brink. “He’s only had four starts and next week is a leg of Hawthorne’s Super Night series.”

Fillies and Mares Open Headliner: The first $11,100 Open Pace for fillies and mares is the Sunday night feature. The six-horse field was drawn by groups with Indiana invader She’s Magical, from the barn of former Chicago circuit leading trainer Perry Smith, the likely favorite.

The 4-year-old Rockin Image mare was third best in last weekend’s $22,000 Harrah’s Hoosier Park Open, pacing in 1:52.3 with a :26.1 last panel. She’s Magical is already a 10-time winner this season and has earned over $130,000 for Perry, who also owns the mare.

Lining up to challenge She’s Magical are five Illinois-bred or -owned mares: Fox Valley Kia (Phil Know), Dandy’s MNM (Richard S. Finn), Apple Valley (Kevin Lambright), Fox Valley Exploit (Kyle Husted) and Tell The Dream (Cordarius Stewart).

The Amy Husted stable’s Fox Valley Exploit is the defending ICF older mare champion with over $466,592 while the Robert Taylor trained Apple Valley took the state’s 3-year-old distaff pacing honor and has won in 1:50 this year.