by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL — On Saturday evening (Sept. 10) at Hawthorne Race Course, the richest night of the meet will take place as 11 finals will be contested for the Night of Champions. The 12-race card kicks off with an open pace at 7:00 p.m., followed by stakes action.

Kadabra Championship
Two-year-old colt and gelding trotters kick off the stakes evening. Favored at 5-2 on the morning line is Trixie’s Jethro from the barn of trainer J D Finn. A winner of seven of ten starts on the year, Trixie’s Jethro has raced strongly in races at Hawthorne as well as the top stakes on the state fair circuit. His biggest competition in the Kadabra comes from a pair of leg four winners from the barn of Roshun Trigg. Jamaica Patton drives 5-1 shot Lougazi, who rides a three-race win streak into the final, while Pat Curtin will guide 9-2 co-second choice Louscipher. Louscipher enters the final off a three-quarter length triumph over Trixie’s Jethro in leg four.

Fox Valley Flan Championship
The 2-year-old filly trotters are featured in the Fox Valley Flan Championship. Trainer Roshun Trigg will be featured prominently once again, this time with Lous Credit Report. A winner of five of eight races this season, Lous Credit Report enters the final off a nearly five-length win in leg four. Jamaica Patton drives the 7-5 morning line favorite on Saturday. Second-choice in the Fox Valley Flan at 5-1 is Fox Valley Elana from the barn of Dane May. Although winless on the year, Fox Valley Elana has finished second in three consecutive races entering the final.

Incredible Tillie Championship
The 2-year-old filly pacers take to the track in the Incredible Tillie Final. Favored at 2-1 in the morning line is My Kind of Dance for trainer Alex Adam and the meet’s leading driver Casey Leonard. A winner of five consecutive races entering the final, My Kind of Dance enters off a nose triumph in leg four. Close second choice at 3-1 is Razzleme Dazzleme for trainer Nick Prather. Posting top three finishes in all of her eight races, Razzleme Dazzleme also enters the final off a strong leg four win.

Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship
The 3-year-old filly trotters hook up in the Beulah Dygert Memorial. Vengeful enters as the 6-5 morning line choice for trainer Kenny Collier and driver Todd Warren. An impressive winner in each of her last two Hawthorne races, Vengeful will have to find position from the outside nine-post and look to close in the lane. At 5-1, Roma Falls will be closing strongly in the lane as she enters the final in her best for of the year. Matt Krueger drives for trainer Ray Hanna.

Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship
The -year-o3ld colt and gelding trotters take to the track in the Erwin F. Dygert final as the race could line up to be a two-horse affair. Morning line choice at 8-5 from the barn of trainer Mike Brink is Hail Caesar, with Casey Leonard driving. A winner of six of twelve races this year, Hail Caesar has won three in a row at Hawthorne, including a game score from the nine-hole in his last. He draws the same post again on Saturday. Second-choice at 2-1 in the morning line is Fear for trainer Kenny Collier. A winner early in the Hawthorne season, Fear returned to form in his most recent race, closing from the far outside to finish second behind Hail Caesar last week.

Plesac Championship
Older trotters line up in the Plesac as trainer Mike Brink sends out another favorite, this time in Rock Hollywood. Very consistent entering this final, Rock Hollywood is approaching $300,000 in career earnings as Casey Leonard drives. Just to Rock Hollywood’s inside is Tricky Nick as he makes his second Hawthorne start. Racing mainly at the Meadows entering tonight’s final, Tricky Nick draws the rail with Jim Pantaleano driving.

Incredible Finale Championship
The 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers take to the track in an extremely competitive Incredible Finale final. With winners of the legs changing numerous times leading up the final, the most consistent of the bunch, and 3-1 morning line choice is Gabe Henry. With six wins from eight starts on the year, Gabe Henry has been very versatile for trainer Thomas Graham, Jr. and driver Todd Warren. The 7-2 second-choice is Fox Valley Nemitz for trainer Joel Smith. A winner in his last two legs leading up to this final, Fox Valley Nemitz has won five of seven races in 2016, including his last four at Hawthorne.

Robert S. Molaro Championship
Older pacers face off in the Molaro as Unlocked is the heavy 8-5 favorite for trainer Norm Parker and driver Jim Pantaleano. With nearly $500,000 in career earnings, and eight victories on the year, Unlocked was strong in the Molaro prep last week as he controlled the pace and was never challenged late. The 2-1 second-choice is A Cool Card as he returns to Hawthorne for trainer Joe Cirasuola. Third to Unlocked last week, A Cool Card has been racing primarily in Indiana in 2016, winning eight times on the year. Todd Warren gets the return drive.

Robert F. Carey Memorial
The 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers battle in the Carey Memorial as Dan D Dune leads the field as the 2-1 choice. Racing for trainer Nelson Willis and driver Casey Leonard, Dan D Dune has one win on the year, coming in leg three action on July 30. Dan D Dune finished second last week in the Carey prep, behind Dr Drake Ramoray, who draws the outside Saturday. IYQ YQR has had a strong 2016 campaign, winning five times and finding the board in nine of twelve starts. Ronnie Roberts trains as Miike Oosting drives IYQ YQR.

Plum Peachy Championshp
The 3-year-old filly pacers match up in the Plum Peachy as Char N Marg is the 2-1 morning line choice. Trained by Nelson Willis and driven by Casey Leonard, Char N Marg has won seven of 13 starts on the year but enters this final off three consecutive defeats. Char N Marg was caught last week by LK’s Nancy Lee, who closed from the far outside in that spot but draws the rail on Saturday. LK’s Nancy Lee enters the final off a pair of upset scores as Pat Curtin drives once again on Saturday for trainer Joel Smith. Whiskersonkittens races for trainer Kim Roth and driver Todd Warren as she is in search of her sixth win in 2016. She was a two-length winner of leg three of the Plum Peachy and is the 5-2 second choice on Saturday.

Tony Maurello Championship
Older fillies and mares close out the stakes laden card in the Tony Maurello Final. Southern Girl draws post five as the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Homer Hochstetler and driver Kyle Wilfong. A winner of eight of 18 on the year, Southern Girl made her first Hawthorne start a winning one last week in the prep. A close 3-1 second-choice is Ryleigh’s Lilly for trainer William Chrone and driver Casey Leonard. Her most recent race was her first victory on the year, but she enters this final finding the board in seven of ten starts in 2016.