Hinsdale, IL – Ideal weather conditions with a sunny sky, temperatures in the low nineties, and a balmy breeze of 10 miles per hour coupled with a very fast track set the stage for the Illinois Department of Agriculture sponsored Violet and Cardinal stake events for ICF 3-year-olds of both gaits at Springfield on Friday (June 21).

Right from the get-go, there was a new lifetime mark set by the Jamaica Patton trained Hypeyoubestieup who went wire-to-wire from the rail in 1:52.2, more than a full second better than her best previous mile.

Driver Tavis Seekman took advantage of the one-post, sending the daughter of Somestarsomewhere out in a hurry with a :27.2 first panel. The winner of the first of three $17,967 Violet pace divisions got her breather in the second quarter (:28.3). She hit the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2, opened by four lengths in the stretch, and held off a fast-closing Fox Valley Sadie (Kyle Husted) to win by a half-length.

Hypeyourbestieup, a $11,500 yearling purchase, is owned by Jamaica Patton (Rochester, IL) and Cedric Daniels (Jackson, MS).

A heads-up move by driver Matt Avenatti was the key to the Dane May trained Amy Mooss comfortable 2-3/4 length triumph in the second $17,967 Violet pace split in 1:53 flat, another new mark.

Owned by Alan Beals of Hoffman Estates, IL, Amy Mooss took the field to fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24 before Avenatti let his filly shoot out to a comfortable stretch lead and the issue then wasn’t in doubt.

In the third Violet split, Chickabell, who was second best at the finish, was disqualified by the stewards from second to last because driver Kyle Husted, who had the second tier with her, went to the first tier at the start when Big Flicka (PP three) was well off the gate.

Second went to Fox Valley Tasha (Cordarius Stewart) while Fine N Dandy (Seekman) was awarded third.

The third Violet pace saw the Kevin Miller stable’s Fox Valley Reeva (Atlee Bender) rally for a 1:53.3 victory, knocking almost two full seconds off his previous best time.

Adalecia (Seekman) rallied from far back to take the runner-up role, beaten a little more than one length. The early pacesetter, First Of Her Name (Juan Franco), was third.

A pair of $22,750 Violet trots were next and last season’s filly freshman trotting champion, Whiskey Lou (Casey Leonard), coasted to her third consecutive victory in a best career time of 1:54.3 while under a hold.

While the winning margin over Fox Valley Tiegen (Atlee Bender) was 1-3/4 lengths, the Curt Grmmel trainee had a six-length lead in the stretch.

From last to first was the wide route Scorecard Lil Red took to prevail in the second $22,750 Violet trot for driver Juan Franco. Trained by Gregory Kain, the Lou’s Legacy homebred was making only his second career start, winning in 1:56.4. His first was a 1:55.4 triumph earlier this month at Hoosier Park.

Cordarius Stewart drove Gorgeous Big Guy to his 1:49.3 victory Friday in a division of the Cardinal ICF stake at Springfield. Terry Young Photo.

The state-bred colts and geldings got their chance to shine in the first of two $24,850 Cardinal paces. When the dust settled,it was Gorgeous Big Guy nailing down his 10th win in a row with a scorching 1:49.3 clocking for driver Cordarius Stewart.

But it didn’t come easy for the Erv Miller star pacer.

Kyle Husted hustled Doctor Cruise out from the nine-hole in the 10-horse field and the Somestarsomewhere progeny rattled off consecutive :27 flat panels. Gorgeous Big Guy was fourth and out and going on the backside, but Doctor Cruise wasn’t slowing down and was seven lengths ahead of the winner at the three-quarters in a sizzling 1:20.3.

Nevertheless, Gorgeous Big Guy kept plugging away and in the last eighth these two were side-by-side. The Ashlee’s Big Guy gelding got past in the late going to win by 1-1/4 lengths to stay perfect for the young season for owners Doug Overhiser (New Smyrna Beach, FL) and Mark Winship (Canton, IL).

Fox Valley Julian (Leonard) was third best.

Guitar Man, also owned by the duo of Doug Overhiser and Mark Winship, came up with a gutsy winning performance in the second Cardinal heat, stopping the timer in 1:51.3.

Trained by Rob Rittof, Guitar Man had to overcome the eight-slot in a 10-horse field. A not-so-easy-journey was expected for Guitar Man, and it certainly came about, the winner paced a wide mile and was three-deep going into the last turn.

Fox Valley Kodiak (Kyle Husted) held off Fox Valley Durhan (Stewart) for the second-place money.

The last two ICF stakes on the program were both $23,650 Cardinal trots. All eyes on the first were on last year’s juvenile champion Lous Private Eye (Leonard), looking to make it three-for-three as a sophomore. He did, convincingly.

After a slow :31 first quarter, Lous Private Eye took command at the half in 1:02.3 when there were no challengers. After the third quarter was reached in 1:31.4, Lous Private Eye pulled away winning in 1:59.3 for owners and breeders Flacco Family Farm of Alexis, IL.

Nicely handled by Jared Finn, Little Chipper made his second season debut a successful one, taking the second Cardinal trot in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. Trained by Jared’s father J D Finn, Little Chipper grabbed the early lead, relinquished it to the eventual runner-up, Lous Gambler (Leonard), took it back near the :57 half-mile pole and drew off to win by two lengths.