Hinsdale, IL – Due to unsafe road conditions expected from ice storms Monday’s (Jan. 22) harness racing at Hawthorne was cancelled.

The outcomes in Sunday’s (Jan. 21) Hawthorne features certainly didn’t go as expected. Upsets came about in both Opens for pacers and in each it was the horse assigned the pole position that produced the surprising outcome.

Defending ICF Age Pacer of the Year He’zzz Wise Sky brought a four-race winning streak into the $11,100 headliner Sunday for male pacers and none were closer than a two-length winning margin, so the betting public confidently set the front-stepping John Fil0momo trained star off at overwhelming odds of 1-9.

On a windy (18 mph) and chilly (20 degrees) night, his backers were all smiles heading into the stretch after modest fractions of :29.2, :58.1 and 1:26.3. Plus, the pocket horse was the 12-1 longshot Town Gossip beaten an average of six lengths by the Illinois stud in their previous three starts and Town Gossip’s more heralded Perry Smith stable mate Round Here Buzz was far back after going off stride and not making the gate.

However, on this night He’zzz A Wise Sky came up empty, weakening in the stretch as Town Gossip, nicely handled by Casey Leonard, shot past leader with ease and went on to a four-length victory in 1:54.3. Round Here Buzz (Mike Oosting) rallied to be non-threatening third.

The 6-year-old American Ideal $26.80 winner is owned by his trainer Perry Smith from Crete, Illinois.

She’s Magical with Mike Oosting pulled off an upset in her Hawthorne Open pace victory over the 1-2 favorite Trick of The Light on Sunday night at Hawthorne. Four Footed Fotos.

Smith was back to greet the track photographer four races later after his 5-year-old mare She’s Magical took advantage of a two-hole journey from Mike Oosting and wore down the heavy favorite Trick Of The Light (Travis Seekman) in the final strides.

The 1-2 favorite, fresh off a comfortable 1:53 flat triumph two weeks earlier in a Hawthorne distaff Open, had to work hard against a stiff wind to make the front when the winner, and the early third choice in the betting, Marvelous Marshia (Todd Warren), also sprinted out at the start.

Trick Of The Light led through fractions of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.4 and still headed the field into the stretch.

Marvelous Maricia appeared to take a bad step not long after the half mile pole and went off stride. Trick Of The Light then opened up the lead to nearly two lengths when She’s Magical took over the pocket.

Oosting waited until inside the eighth pole to tip She’s Magical out and the daughter of Rockin Image mare responded nicely, capturing a neck decision in the 1:56.4 mile.