Hinsdale, IL — It’s been a fascinating year for state-bred horses as far as balloting for the upcoming 2023 Illinois Horse of the Year is concerned in the fact that there are a number of horses who deserved to be in the conversation for the honor.

We talked about the 3-year-old Desirae Seekman trained trotter Goomster last week with now 16 season’s wins and four seconds and over $158,000 in purse earnings for owner Dennis Gardner.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention such gifted Illinois breds as the 3-year-old male pacer Fox Valley Landen, the sophomore filly pacer Fox Valley Leah, the 2-year-old colt Gorgeous Big Guy and of course, the older pacer He’zzz A Wise Sky.

All are a cinch to be named the best in their respective divisions. Whether the criteria to take the top prize consists of money won, number of victories, winning percentage, and caliber of competition, both in and out-of-state, they all have impressive credentials in most, and some instances all, of those categories.

“Of course, I would love for my horse to win it,” said He’zzz A Wise Sky’s trainer John Filomeno. “There are others that deserve it, too. Let’s give credit where credit is due, all the horses you mentioned also had great years and any one of them that got the award would be okay with me.”

He’zzz A Wise Sky had another banner year for John and the other members of the Triple ZZZ stable. Thus far the 6-year-old homebred has put another $133,102 on his 2023 card, boasting a record of 10 wins, seven seconds and one third in 22 starts with more to come.

“I want to keep racing him at Hawthorne though the winter meet,” said Filomeno.

However, John knows full well that racing his star pacer in Illinois on a consistent basis hasn’t been the case.

“My horse has been written out (by the Hawthorne Race Office) a few times and this year we didn’t start racing at Hawthorne until mid-September. I did get a chance to race him at Springfield and Du Quoin (in their older Illinois bred championships).”

The Yankee Skyscaper pacer out of the Filomenos’ broodmare Gimmeazzzmooch won the State Fair championships rather easily in sub-1:50 miles.

He’zzz A Wise Sky competed in Indiana and in Minnesota this year where he won the $50,000 Dan Patch open company pace. Last season He’zzz A Wise Sky had to compete in three different Ohio tracks, at Hoosier, and in Kentucky because there simply weren’t a lot of opportunities to perform here in Illinois.

“It doesn’t matter who he races against, He’zzz A Wise Sky gives you everything he’s got in every start. It’s been unbelievable that our little homebred colt goes out there and hangs tough with some of the best horses. There was a time when we didn’t know if he would even live.”

John was referring to the colt’s 2-year-old season when he was found to be suffering from the neurological disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

“The day before we sent him to the University of Illinois the horse couldn’t take three steps before falling. He was in that bad of shape. My dad and I even talked about putting him down. I called the U of I Vet school to see if they could help, and they said send him down here and they’ll see what they can do.

“We did and they treated him and three weeks later we had him back. They said he’s at where horses they treated for six months would be.”

He’zzz A Wise Sky began his racing career in August that season and won five of seven races and nearly $80,000. One season later as 3-year-old he was named the 2020 Illinois Horse of the Year, winning nine of 18 starts, Hawthorne’s Night of Champions Incredible Finale final and earning over $122,000.

Sunday night the gifted homebred returns to racing after a one-week rest and a strong test awaits. He was assigned the outside nine-slot in the deeper than usual $11,100 Open.

From the one-slot down the sixth race features Shakertown (Todd Warren), Town Gossip (Wyatt Avenatti), Hello Sweetie Boy (Travis Seekman), Fox Valley Ozzy (Gary Rath), Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard), VP Rockin (Juan Franco), Round Here Buzz (Mike Oosting), Mr Charisma (Brandon Bates) and He’zzz A Wise Sky (Kyle Wilfong).