The $17,840 ISOBA Stake for 3 year old Illinois Bred trotting colts will kick off the Wednesday night card and the horse to beat appears to be Grant’s Charger. The Erv Miller trainee is fresh off defeating division leader Customize last week at Springfield and that 1:55 triumph has earned the son of Armbro Charger the 8-5 morning line favoritism. Beerthirty was the leader at the head of the lane in that Springfield race, but unfortunately lost all chance with an untimely break in stride. If the Smokey Legend is on his best behavior he will be a major threat in the race. Poe was second behind Customize in the $28,500 Gumcorner Lad Stake Final at Hawthorne on August 6th and a repeat of that effort will put the Jim Eaton pupil right into the thick of things.

The ISOBA Stake for ICF sophomore pacing colts split into two divisions and in the first $10,480 battle Fox Valley Jammin is the morning line choice. All three of the Sportsmaster colt’s three victories this season have come at the Illinois County Fair including an amazing 1:55.4 score at Mt. Sterling in a $6,157 MWIRA Stake. Mr Restrictorplate has been chasing all of the best ICF 3 year old pacing colts all season long and is still searching for his initial win during the 2004 campaign. On his best effort, he is capable of breaking the ice.

Enemy At The Gate is the prohibitive 1-2 choice in the second division of the ISOBA Stake. The Cole Muffler gelding has won 11 of 15 starts in 2004 including a 1:51 tally in the $36,500 Master Shawn Stake Final at Hawthorne on August 7th. Last time out the Tom Simmons trainee was a 1:49.2 winner at Springfield. Live Out Loud was second in that race and the Dave McCaffery pupil will once again be chasing the top pick, waiting for slightest chink in Enemy At The Gate’s armor.

With starting berths on the line for next Wednesday’s $12,500 final, 30 fillies and mares will be slugging it out in three divisions of leg two of the Cicero Pacing Series. In the first division, a pair of leg one winners will be vying for the top spot in the earning’s chart. Both Roam Goddess and Judy’s Tomboy were open length winners in leg one and if either is victorious tonight, they would earn the early favoritism for next week’s final. Gene Egg Torpedo, April Heiress DJ and Whata Terrorist were all second last week in leg one and a top three finish would most likely secure a seat at next week’s final table.

Fox Valley Athena is the 2-1 morning line favorite in division two off of her 1:55 tally in leg one of the series. Out of the Dave McCaffrey Stable, the Sportsmaster filly will be seeking her third straight Hawthorne victory tonight. OG’s Lady Dee, Kate’s Atom N, Ravishing Rachel and Informal all need in the money performances to keep their hopes of an appearance in the final alive.

Rainy Day Tish finished third in a division of leg one last week as the 4-5 favorite. The Rod Allums trainee has drawn into what looks like the easiest of the three divisions and a 1-2 finish most likely would put the Armbro Mackintosh filly in the final. Victorious Victory and Baby Austin boast third place finishes in leg one and will need to add to their money total to get a shot at a chance in the final.