Hinsdale, IL – After a three-week absence the Illinois version of the “Battle of the Titans” returns Friday night (July 30) when ICF standouts He’zzz A Wise Sky and Fox Valley Gemini square off with the return of Hawthorne’s $12,000 Open Pace.

Fox Valley Gemini (#6) and He’zzz A Wize Sky will renew their rivalry in Friday night’s $12,000 Open Pace at Hawthorne. Four Footed Fotos.

The last time these two Illinois bred star pacers tangled was back on July 9 with He’zzz A Wise Sky coming out on top in his usual front-stepping fashion. The victory by the John Filomono trained 4-year-old broke a tie of three victories apiece against each other at the meeting.

Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) needs a win tonight to even the score against his adversary, however landing the outside nine-hole with a large field does make tonight’s task an arduous one.

Three Fridays ago, Leonard ducked Fox Valley Gemini from the seven slot and even a wicked :25.4 last quarter couldn’t overtake He’zzz A Wize Sky since the Jim Ballinger owned pacer was 6-1/2 lengths behind his chief rival at three three-quarter pole.

A week earlier, Leonard gunned “Gemini” out from the nine-hole and got a two-hole journey behind the star of the Triple ZZZ Stable who paced a sizzling 54.4 half. “Gemini” put on a late surge to notch the 6-year-old’s 43rd career victory.

“I don’t like to race ‘Gemini” like that all the time,” said Leonard.

So, what’s the strategy from Hawthorne’s perennial leading driver this time around? We’ll have to wait until the eighth race Friday night to find out.

There’s no shortage of drivers in tonight’s feature that would love to have a two- or three-hole trip with their horse behind He’zzz A Wize Sky, so a quick first panel is almost a certainty.

He’zz A Wize Sky and Fox Valley Gemini drew for the eight and nine posts, respectively.

The first seven slots were drawn separately and will be manned by Fox Valle Ren (Juan Franco), Warrawee Veloce (Wyatt Avenatti), Lying In Cash (Kyle Husted), Bobcat Bay (Ridge Warren), On Duty (Atleee Bender), Primo Giovanni (Todd Warren) and Yankee Bounty (Travis Seekman).

While the two state-bred icons have been almost even-steven in this season’s confrontations, interestingly the betting public’s support has gone to He’zzz A Wize Sky the last five times the pair have gone head-to-head.

The only time “Gemini” has gone off as the favorite against his chief rival was on May 16 when the Terry Leonard trained pacer was impeded in the stretch and finished fourth, the only season start he hasn’t been first or second in his eight outings

Eying the State Fair: Racing at Springfield gets under way in two weeks and with eliminations for the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes races for 2-year-olds on Friday (Aug, 13), several trainers have decided to have their youngsters compete tonight to stay sharp.

Hawthorne’s seventh race is strictly for ICF colt and gelding freshman pacers, and it’s headed up by trainer Gary Rath’s Fox Valley Ozzy (Leonard), unbeaten in his initial three starts, all state bred stakes events.

“Ozzy” has nailed down comfortable victories in the first two legs of the Incredible Finale series as well as a division of the Cardinal.

Nine of the 10 horses going to the gate in the seventh race have competed in the Night of Champion stakes series including such other Top Ten standing point earners as Major Grin (50), Fox Valley Crete (37), Magazine Theme (33), Pericles (13,) and Kingofmyheart (9).