Cicero, IL — Anyone who is a follower of horse racing knows that not all the gambling on the sport comes from the racetrack’s mutuel system. There has always been plenty of horsepeople’s money changing hands through the track’s claiming box, as well.

Like any other form of betting, sometimes they win on a claim and sometimes they lose.

In the case of Perry Smith’s talented pacer Round Here Buzz, the long-time Midwest trainer came out a big-time winner when he took a bit of a risky move back in September 2022, plucking the Aracache Hanover gelding out of a $50,000 claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

“Round Here Buzz was a 4-year-old then,” said Smith. “So, I had to pay $62,500 for him because of his age allowance. And I made the claim in September that year, so it was more of a risk. But I watched the horse overtake $40,000 and $50,000 claimers week after week. Also, he was a young horse with not that many races under his belt (42) and had a mark under 1:50, so I took a chance.”

Over $120,000 in purse earnings later, Smith is happy he did but admits: “I’ve had my share of claims that went the other way, too.

“I have 21 horses right now and it’s been hard to get them raced in the wintertime, “said the longtime Crete, Ill., resident with two training titles at each Balmoral Park and Maywood Park on his list of accomplishments among his 1,896 winners as a trainer.

Smith also has 700 winning drives, although, at the age of 72, he would be the first to admit he isn’t to add to that total. He drove on the Chicago circuit in the late 1970s and the ’80s before becoming a full-time trainer.

Round Here Buzz won his initial start of the new year two weeks ago in an Open II event at Hawthorne, and the usual late-rushing pacer surprisingly did it in the front end for driver Mike Oosting.

The stalwart of the Perry Smith stable has his work cut out for him Sunday (Jan. 21). He’ll take on the streaking Illinois champion He’zzz A Wise Sky (Kyle Wilfong), and others, in the co-featured $11,100 Open Pace at Hawthorne. Round Here Buzz drew nicely in the five-horse field with the two-slot for Oosting. Stablemate Town Gossip (Casey Leonard) has the pole position.

The Husted stable’s MacDavid (Todd Warren) landed the three-post in Sunday’s third race and Mr Charisma, runner-up to He’zzz A Wise Sky on Dec. 29, has the four.

He’zzz A Wise Sky, assigned the outside five-slot, has rattled off four consecutive Hawthorne Open triumphs and no doubt will be a heavy favorite to extend his most recent winning streak. The now 7-year-old homebred was a 12-time winner in 2023 for trainer John Filomeno and Triple ZZZ Stable.

For races later on the card is the $11,100 filly and mare Open Pace and a rematch between Indiana-bred mares Trick Of The Light (Casey Leonard) and Marvelous Marshia (Todd Warren), winners of the last pair of local distaff Opens.

Drawn by groups, She’s Magical (Mike Oosting) was allocated the pole position. Kizzzmelikeumissme (Kyle Wilfong) drew the two while Lady Angel (Kyle Wilfong) procured the three. Bombay Parkway (Casey Leonard) was assigned the four, Marvelous Marshia the five, and Trick Of The Light the outside six.