by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL — Saturday evening (Sept. 10) at Hawthorne, eleven stakes finals were contested for the Night of Champions. The races for Illinois-breds were contested over a fast track.

The $75,000 Kadabra Championship

The first stakes event on the evening was the Kadabra Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Louscipher used a well-timed move by Pat Curtin to overtake stablemate Lougazi in the lane and hold off Polar B at the wire for a three-length score in 1:58.3. Trained by Roshun Trigg and owned by Flacco Family Farms, Louscipher paid $7.20 as the second choice.

The $75,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship

<!–The Fox Valley Flan final was for 2-year-filly trotters. Driver Casey Leonard used a well-timed move with Fox Valley Elana to catch favored Lous Credit Report in the final sixteenth. Longshot Heartland Honey finished third as Fox Valley Elana won in 2:02. Fox Valley Elana paid $8.20 for owner and trainer Dane May.

The $100,000 Incredible Tillie Championship

The Incredible Tillie final for 2-year-old filly pacers saw another upset. Driver Freddie Patton Jr. made a bold, three-wide move in the turn with Princess Sage and outfinished favorite My Kind Of Dance at the wire. Razzleme Dazzleme got up for third. Final time was 1:55.3. Princess Sage is owned by Keli Jo Bell and Freddie Patton Jr. and trained by Freddie Patton Jr. as she returned $15.60.

The $75,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship

The Beulah Dygert Memorial trot for 3-year-old filly pacers saw the first winning favorite on the Night of Champions card. Vengeful and driver Todd Warren used a quick move in the turn and extended into the lane to draw clear for a five-length score. Surviver Di held second while Roma Falls closed for third. Vengeful covered the mile in 1:58.1. Vengeful is owned by Providence West Inc. and trained by Kenny Collier, returning $3.60 to win.

The $75,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship

The 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters matched up in the Erwin F. Dygert final. The favories finished one-two as Hail Caesar sustained a strong rally on the turn for Casey Leonard to hold off Fear. Longshot Primed N Powerful got up for third. Hail Caesar won in 1:58.1 for owner H. W. Wright and trainer Mike Brink. He returned $4.60 as the slight second choice.

The $50,00 Plesac Championship

The Plesac final was for 4-year-old and up trotters. Another favorite got the job done as Ants Iner Pants was able to wear down Tricky Nick late for driver Kyle Husted. Rock Hollywood got up for third as Ants Iner Pants won in 1:57.3. Owned by Thomas Wisniewski and trainer Steve Searle, Ants Iner Pants paid $6.80 to win.

The $100,000 Incredible Finale Championship

For 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, the Incredible Finale final was the most exciting finish on the night. Mike Oosting was able to swing Fox Valley Herbie six-wide into the stretch to rally from last for a half-length score in 1:54. Fox Valley Herbie caught Fox Valley Jeter and Gabe Henry. Fox Valley Herbie paid $9.20 for owner Benita Simmons and trainer Tom Simmons.

The $50,000 Robert S. Molaro Championship

The 4-year-old and up male pacers took to the track but there was no upsetting 1-5 favorite Unlocked. Driven by Jim Pantaleano and trained by Norm Parker, Unlocked assumed command early, drawing clear to win in a snappy 1:51.3. A Cool Card held well for place while Lucky Crusader got up for third. Owned by Megan Rogers Racing Stables Inc. and trained by Norm Parker, Unlocked paid $2.60 to win.

The $100,000 Robert F Carey Memorial Championship

Dr. Drake Ramoray didn’t let starting from the outside (post 10) slow him down as he, along with driver Jim Pantaleano, rushed to the front end and never looked back in Saturday’s Robert F. Carey Memorial Championship for Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, winning by 2-3/4 lengths. Dr. Drake Ramoray, trained by Norm Parker and owned by Megan Rogers Racing Stables Inc. got the mile in 1:53.0. He paid $11.20 as the fifth choice in the wagering.

The $100,000 Plum Peachy Championship

Whiskersonkittens grabbed the lead quickly and held all the others safe as she paced her way to a five-length victory in Saturday’s Plum Peachy Championship for 3-year-old filly pacers. Driven by Todd Warren, owned by Ronald G Krupp and trained by Kimberly Roth, Whiskersonkittens paid $4.80 as the betting favorite in the race. She paced the mile in 1:52.4. LK’s Nancy Lee finished second while morning-line favorite Char N Marg got up for third.

The $50,000 Tony Maurello Championship

Fox Valley Charm, owned by Peter J Karras, trained by Rodney Freese and driven by Michael Oosting scored a half-length victory in Saturday’s Tony Maurello Championship at Hawthorne Race Course. He covered the mile in 1:52.3, paying $9.00 as third choice in the wagering. Despite starting from post 10, Fox Valley Charm was able to gain good position early, had the lead by midstretch, and was able to hold off all late comers.