Stickney, IL – Unlike the 2024 event where rained poured down upon Night of Champions at Hawthorne, the 2025 edition was welcomed by a gorgeous weather evening with unseasonably warm temperatures. A fast track led to top performances during the $1.1 million, 12-race Night of Champions card at Hawthorne. The evening also marked a milestone for trainer Erv Miller.
Race 1 – Bombay Parkway from the clouds in Maurello
The Night of Champions card kicked off with the $50,000 Tony Maurello Memorial Championship for aged filly and mare pacers. It was longshots early on as Kizzmelikeumissme cleared from the outside to pass the opening quarter in :28.1. On the backside she faced a challenge from Hypeyourbestieup, passing the half in :55.2. In the turn, second choice Scorecard Dandy ranged up to challenge, with a trio covering three quarters in 1:24. As the longshot speed faded into the lane, Scorecard Dandy took over while My Daddys Revenge and Bombay Parkway got clear. They were three across at the wire, with the late rally of Bombay Parkway getting up in time to win by a length and a half for driver Brandon Bates in 1:53.1. My Daddys Revenge was second while Scorecard Dandy finished third. Bombay Parkway returned $5.20 to win as the 8-5 favorite for owner Ed Teefey and trainer Walter Haynes, Jr.
Race 2 – Go Go Go Chrome steals the Kadabra
The $118,000 Kadabra Championship for 2-year-old filly trotters looked to be the perfect setup for heavy favorite Fox Valley Snapper. Things changed shortly after the start though as Fox Valley Snapper broke stride into the first turn. Getting away quickly was Go Go Go Chrome for driver Juan Franco, through a quarter in :28.2. Chased along the backside by Zambony and Zoomster, Go Go Go Chrome maintained his lead through a half in :56.4 and three quarters in 1:26.1. Into the lane, Zoomster picked up the chase, but Go Go Go Chrome was long gone, rolling to a strong three-and-a-quarter length score in 1:56.2. Zoomster was a clear second while Fox Valley Sahbra rallied to finish third. As the 18-1 longshot, Go Go Go Chrome returned $39.40 to win for owners Ronald Phillips, Lyle Lipe and trainer Jamaica Patton.
Race 3 – Fox Valley Gimlet in record time
Two-year-old filly trotters contested the $110,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship as Fox Valley Gimlet was sent away as the even money choice for driver Marcus Miller. Early on, it was the speed of Shady Maple Chick, passing the quarter in :28.4. On the backside, longshot Pony Chrome came to challenge, along with a move from Fox Valley Cougar, as the leaders passed the half in :57. In the turn, Miller drove the favorite into position as Fox Valley Gimlet ranged up just behind the leaders through three-quarters in 1:26.4. Into the lane, Fox Valley Gimlet accelerated, drawing clear to win by three-quarters of a length in a track record time for 2-year-old filly trotters of 1:55.2. Unhynged Cadeau rallied late for place while Shady Maple Chick came back along the inside to finish third. Fox Valley Gimlet returned $4 to win for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Inc., Anthony Lombardi, and Final Turn. The win was career training victory number 6,999 for trainer Erv Miller.
Race 4 – Whiskey Lou with a Night of Champions repeat
The $50,000 Carl Becker Memorial Championship for aged mare trotters had some intrigue after the post draw, when heavy favorite and 2024 three-year-old filly champion trotter Whiskey Lou was dealt the far outside of the field of 10. With the expected pace to come from Lady Tru Grit along the inside, things changed early as that one broke stride shortly after the start, leaving longshot Lous Amazon to make the lead through the quarter in :29. Driver Marcus Miller wasted no time with Whiskey Lou as he had the 4-year-old mare on the move on the backside, taking over the lead at the half in :57.1. Whiskey Lou maintained her lead through the turn, passing three quarters in 1:26.2 as Peekaboo Sal picked up the chase along with Lous Amazon. In the lane, neither were able to challenge the favorite, as Whiskey Lou held sway, winning in 1:54.4. Lous Amazon was a game second while Peekaboo Sal held third. Whiskey Lou returned $3.40 to win for owner Randy Wilt and trainer Curt Grummel.
Race 5 – Pace makes the race for Fox Valley Kodiak
The $50,000 Phil Langley Memorial Championship was a race sure to produce a lot of early pace and didn’t disappoint. Battling through the opening quarter in :27 was Fox Valley Kodiak and He’zzz A Wise Sky. With Fox Valley Kodiak taking back on the backside, He’zzz a Wise Sky got no breather as Fox Valley Julian pressed him through the half in a quick :53.2. He’zzz A Wise Sky was still there through three quarters in 1:22.1 while Fox Valley Julian dropped back. Fox Valley Kodiak and Kyle Wilfong took advantage of the pace battle as he angled outside of the leaders and rallied to a win in 1:50.4. Gorgeous Big Guy closed well late for place, followed by Fox Valley Silent. Owned by trainer Nelson Willis and Donna Kaye Kelly, Fox Valley Kodiak returned $4.80 for the victory.
Race 6 – The Horse of the Year wins again
The $110,000 Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers featured 2024 Illinois Horse of the Year Cash Money Twenty as he was sent away as the even money favorite with Casey Leonard in the bike. The rambunctious Cash Money Twenty wasted no time as he chased Dialogue through a quarter in :27.1 before taking over on the backside to lead the half in :55. Chased into the far turn by Dialogue and Battlin Bob through three quarters in 1:24, Cash Money Twenty was roused by Leonard at the top of the lane and responded nicely. He opened up mid-stretch, winning by daylight in 1:51.2. Battlin Bob was a clear second while Dialogue held on to finish third. Cash Money Twenty returned $4 to win for owner Heart & Soul Racing and Casey Leonard for trainer Mike Brink.
Race 7 – Evening Slippers with the upset
The richest race on the Night of Champions card was the $142,000 Incredible Tillie Championship for 2-year-old filly pacers. Favored was Fox Valley Fastrak for trainer Erv Miller. Leaving for the lead from the inside was Fox Valley Tamara as she was clear through the quarter in :27.4. On the backside, Fox Valley Polaris moved to challenge as the duo passed the half in :55.3. On the turn, Fox Valley Tamara came back to take over while Fox Valley Fastrak moved up to contend through three quarters in 1:24.1. Into the stretch, Fox Valley Fastrak grabbed the lead as the two pacesetters dropped back but a fresh challenge came from Travis Seekman with 29-1 longshot Evening Slippers. Sustaining her rally, Evening Slippers rolled past the favorite in the lane and drew clear, winning in 1:53.1. Fox Valley Fastrak held second while Dnt Touche Mymooss rallied to finish third. Evening Slippers returned $61 to win for owner David Arrenholz and trainer Amanda VanWinkle.
Race 8 – Another late rally for an upset
The $138,000 Incredible Finale Championship for 2-year-old male pacers looked to be a matchup between favorites Fox Valley Onassis and Sleazy Captain. In the end the race was another upset. Sleazy Captain got away in good order, making the lead through the opening quarter in :28.1 Pushed along on the backstretch by Mighty Engine through the half in :55.4, Sleazy Captain battled into the turn. After three quarters in 1:23.1, Fox Valley Onassis took up the chase along with In a Minute into the lane. Mid-stretch, it was driver Kyle Wilfong with Keyser Soze who sprung onto the scene, rolling past the trio to a victory in 1:52.2. Sleazy Captain held second while In a Minute finished third. Paying $19 to win, Keyser Soze is owned by Benita Simmons for trainer Tom Simmons.
Race 9 – Lous Lancelot game in victory
The $50,000 Plesac Championship for aged male trotters featured a field of seven, led by last week’s elimination winner Lous Lancelot for driver and trainer James Lackey. Leaving for the top was the 2-5 favorite as Lackey guided him through the quarter in :28.1. Chased on the backside and into the turn by Tankmetodennyland, Lous Lancelot held his lead through the half in :57.1 and three quarters in 1:27. In the stretch, Lousraptor and Heath Bar both took up the chase, but Lous Lancelot was game, digging in to win by a three-quarters of a length in 1:55.4. Heath Bar closed to finish second while Lousraptor was third. James Lackey also owns the winner who returned $2.80.
Race 10 – 7,000 wins for Trainer Erv Miller
The $116,000 Plum Peachy Championship for 3-year-old filly pacers was a matchup between Fox Valley Lava and Fox Valley Jasmine as trainer Erv Miller looked for career training victory 7,000. Early in the race, An Angel Somewhere broke stride along the inside, allowing for A Very Nice Dandy to clear from the outside, leading Fox Valley Jasmine past the quarter in :27. On the backside, Fox Valley Lava moved to contend through the half in :54.2 while Marcus Miller and Fox Valley Jasmine searched for room. After three-quarters in 1:22.3, Fox Valley Lava led Fox Valley Groupie and Two Bean Dream into the lane while Miller and Fox Valley Jasmine dove to the inside late in the stretch and was able to rally, getting up to win by a head over Two Bean Dream in 1:52.3. Fox Valley Lava held third. The win was number 7,000 in the training career for Erv Miller as Fox Valley Jasmine returned $6.40 for owners Final Turn, Mark Winship, and John Schwarz, Jr.
Race 11 – Sunburnt Silverado doesn’t disappoint
The $88,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial for 3-year-old male trotters looked to cap a strong season for Sunburnt Silverado as he was sent away as the 1-5 choice with Kyle Wilfong in the bike. Early on, it was One Trip Chip that set the pace, passing the quarter in :30. The favorite tracked the early leader and narrowly avoided some chaos on the backstretch as One Trip Chip broke stride, causing both DJ’s Midnight and Mustang Danny to also go off-stride, with the field scattering behind the trio. After a half in 1:00, Frontier Macho ranged up to contend with Sunburnt Silverado into the far turn. Frontier Macho led the field into the lane through three quarters in 1:29 while the favorite tracked his every step. In the stretch, Wilfong guided Sunburnt Silverado out, taking over the lead to draw clear, winning in 1:58.1. Frontier Macho held second while Mustang Danny recovered to finish third. Owned by Curt, Craig, and Leo Grummel and driver Kyle Wilfong, Sunburnt Silverado is trained by Curt Grummel.
Race 12 – Lou’s My Number in the shadow of the wire
The final event on the Night of Champions card was the $83,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial for 3-year-old filly trotters as trainer Steve Searle sent out four starters in the race, including favorite Lou’s My Number. It was a different Searle entrant who set the early fractions as Lous Avalon made the lead, through a quarter in :28.4 and half in :57.3. Chased into the far turn by a pair of Curt Grummel trainees in Almost Home and Gypsy Rose Lou, Lous Avalon led the field into the stretch after three quarters in 1:27.1. In the lane, the pace gave way as Lou’s My Number was guided by Casey Leonard to the front, rallying to win in 1:55.4. Kays In Charge closed late for place, followed by What a Legacy. Lou’s My Number returned $3.60 to win.
Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, is open daily for full-card simulcasting as well as for sports wagering in the Fanatics Sportsbook. The summer Thoroughbred meet began on March 27 and raced through Nov. 2. The winter harness season began Nov. 7 and will conclude Feb. 15. For any information about Hawthorne Race Course visit our website www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.