by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Racecourse
Stickney, IL — Hawthorne’s meet leading driver to date, Casey Leonard, had a night to remember at Hawthorne on Saturday (July 22), capping a big racing week.
Entering the second half of the Hawthorne Standardbred season, Leonard held a 26 win margin in the driver standings over Mike Oosting and hasn’t missed a beat.
The week opened with Leonard winning a pair of races on Thursday, guiding home 2-year-old Rippin An Runnin in race three followed by Gorgeous View in the sixth race.
Although Leonard was winless on Friday evening, five of his drives found the board, including OK Heavenly finishing second in the Filly and Mare Open Pace.
Saturday’s night to remember for Leonard kicked off with a win by Fox Valley Gemini in the first division of leg two action of the Incredible Finale stakes. He came back to win with Mykonos in race three, the second division of the Incredible Finale.
After finishing second with LK’s Nancy Lee in race four and third behind Ashless Nannah in race five, Casey was back in the winner’s circle for race six, sweeping all three divisions of the Incredible Finale, this time driving home Lambo. He drove Beatrice to a victory in race seven followed by Lucy Flew in the ninth.
Leonard rounded out the big night taking both ends of the late double, winning with Dali Treasure in the 11th and closing out the big evening as Slzburgerslzburger won race 12.
On Sunday evening, Leonard followed a third place finish with Lous Silver Star in race two by winning race three with Kickinitwithkohler. In the second leg of the Kadabra stakes, Casey struck again, controlling the pace with True Detective and drawing clear in the lane.
Overall for the week, Leonard won 11 races, had four runner-up efforts and eight third-place performances on his big week.