by Mitch Demick, for Hawthorne Racecourse

Stickney, IL — On a gorgeous Sunday evening at Hawthorne Race Course, fillies and mares dominated the racing program almost from start to finish. 11 of the 12 races were carded for the ladies of racing, which included the $10,000 second leg of The Sox Pacing Series.

The Sox Pacing Series for fillies and mares is the counterpart to the Cubs Pacing Series, and just like the male version where Deadly Attack took both preliminary legs, Rock and Roll Stable’s Prime Xample did the same.

Sent off at odds of 2-5, supporters of Prime Xample never had an anxious moment as she sprung the gate without competition for the early lead, then led seven overmatched fillies and mares from gate-to-wire. The final margin of victory was four lengths, with the mile completed in an unpressured 1:53.4. Jack’s Magic Jewel sat the pocket to be a clear second, while Fox Valley Nanners was well clear for third.

Trained by Kimberly Roth and driven by Rick Dane, Jr., Prime Example has now won both legs of the Sox Pacing Series in dominating fashion. Perhaps the only question is who will be her driver in the $25,000 final on July 8. Hall of Fame driver Dave Magee drove the 5-year-old daughter of By Xample in the first leg, but Dane did nothing wrong in Magee’s absence. So, who will it be?

“I talked to Kim and the owners and we decided we’ll put Dave back down on her. We want somebody with the experience. Truthfully it was my decision to get her back with Dave. I haven’t had that many drives, it’s a lot of money, so it’s the right thing to do,” Dane said.

The top ten earners from the two preliminary legs will be eligible to participate in the final.

In a conditioned race earlier on the card, the Erv Miller trained Kiss Of Heaven reacquainted herself with the winner’s circle when she rolled through the lane en route to a three length score in a time of 1:54. Driven to victory by Brent Holland, Kiss Of Heaven was getting some class relief, as she last paced in The Lady Chicago Stakes, where she was a close third to the classy sophomore fillies Cabana Fever and Sportsfancy.