Hinsdale, IL — With the Cardinal and Violet ICF stake events — the initial added money events of the 2023 Illinois harness racing season — on the horizon, quite a number of state-bred 3-year-olds of both gaits are preparing for them Thursday (June 15) at the Springfield State Fairgrounds.

First post on the 13-race non-wagering card is noon (CDT).

Looking to stay sharp for the Cardinal Pace on June 22 are six of the seven horses going to the gate in Thursday’s eighth race conditioned pace including a pair of Tom Simmons trained stablemates who look very formidable. Illinois driver ace Casey Leonard was listed on both Simmons trained standouts — Fox Valley Steeler and Fox Valley Cayman.

Fox Valley Steeler, shown here flashing his winning form at Decatur, will go postward Thursday afternoon at Springfield. Patricia Fryman Photography.

“It was a tough choice deciding who to drive,” said Casey. “I based it on the two horses’ current form. At this time, Fox Valley Steeler looks to be the sharper of the two. He’s gotten stronger over the winter, and he put together two very nice efforts at Springfield and Du Quoin.

“I drove him last year in his (second) start and he impressed me in that race. I’m not sure what he came home in, but I know it was fast.”

It was. Fox Valley Steeler paced a :26.2 last panel in that start.

Casey also drove the youngster to a winning division of the Director’s Cup at last summer’s Du Quoin State Fair. Earlier the Harvard, Ill., native likewise guided Fox Valley Cayman to a victory in a Cardinal juvenile split.

“Fox Valley Cayman raced very well as a 2-year-old but had the bad luck to draw the 10-hole on the Night of Champions and never had a chance to get into the race,” continued Casey.

“Some breaking horses forced him to the outside in his last start at Decatur. He ended up parked most of the mile and he couldn’t get past the horse on the lead (Kage Daniel). Right now, I believe Fox Valley Steeler would have passed that same horse with the same trip.”

Travis Seeman, who is closing in on 1,000 career dash winners, got the catch-drive Thursday behind Fox Valley Cayman.

The daunting Simmons trained pacers are two of the five sophomores in race eight by the Fox Valley Standardbred’s Somestarsomewhere, the 2022 ICF Pacing Sire of the Year. Fox Valley Mckee (Juan Franco), Midnight Chrome (Matt Krueger) and Fox Valley Jasper (Cordarius Stewart) are the others.

Mister Sleaze (Kyle Husted), an Engel Stable homebred, is by Sagebrush, out of the owner’s broodmare Da Sleazy One. Both Mister Sleaze and Fox Valley Jasper are trained by Ery Miller.

The lone 4-year-old in the race is Kingofmyheart (post seven, Wyatt Avenatti), acquired by trainer David Avenatti about a month ago.

Judy Collins’ Fox Valley Kia (Phil Knox), last year’s Illinois bred freshman filly pacing champion; her chief rival My Daddys Revenge (Matt Krueger), and Incredible Tillie final runner-up Rona Mae (Jordan Patton), all June 23 Violet Pace bound, will vie one race later.

Among the upcoming Cardinal trot hopefuls competing Thursday afternoon is the entire sixth race six-horse field consisting of Lous Andiamo (Matt Krueger), Eyesontheprize Lou (Casey Leonard), Twin Cedars Alstar (Jamaica Patton), Tankmetodennyland (Travis Seeman), Whatta Year (Juan Franco) and Youain’tnofool (Jamaal Denson).