Stickney, IL — The first three-day racing week of the Hawthorne meet saw the addition of Friday racing as horses continue to get fit and race-ready. While the opening three weeks of the Hawthorne meeting saw different drivers and trainers making their mark, everyone seemed to get into the mix in week four.

The Friday evening (March 6) eight-race card found eight different trainers in the winner’s circle, with driver Juan Franco being the only driver to post a double on the card. Fancy Creek Jolene returned to the form she showed a couple years ago with a 1:55.2 win in the opener for trainer Kim Hamilton. Undrafted (1:55.2) sprang a 16-1 upset in the third race, giving Franco his driving double. The fastest mile on the night came in the finale, as Youmakemyheartsing won in 1:53.2 for driver Kyle Wilfong and trainer Brett Wilfong.

Saturday (March 7) opened with Fox Valley Lincoln (1:56.3) getting his second consecutive win for Mike Oosting and trainer Dee Cozzi. Louscaramon (1:57.2) became a three-time winner this meet as Casey Leonard guided him home in the second for trainer Steve Searle. Leonard got his second driving victory on the card in the fourth, as Lindy’s Big Bang (1:56.2) took the featured Open Trot. Mike Oosting also doubled on the card, winning race three with Spunky Bottom Girl (1:57.1). Kyle and Brett Wilfong closed out the night, taking the late double with Boogie On Down (1:55.4) and Be Magical (1:59). Trainer Steve Searle teamed up with James Molitor to win with Coming Up (1:57.1) and complete a double.

My Uptowne Girl (1:56) took the Sunday (March 8) opener for Juan Franco and trainer Gerald Hansen. Back-to-back Open paces followed, with Dee Rocks (1:54.2) holding off favored Rollin Coal for driver Ridge Warren in the second race while Castle Flight (1:52.1) was impressive once again in the third for Kyle Wilfong. The Sunday card closed with three consecutive driving doubles. First, Mike Oosting won races four and five with Valar Morghulis (1:56) and Dirt E Rock (1:56). Next up was Brandon Bates, who took the sixth with Bluebird Luigi (2:00.2) followed by Slow Your Roll (1:59.2) in the seventh. Todd Warren drove home the final double on the night, winning the eighth behind Cookies Empire (1:56.2) and Crystal Hotspur (1:58.4) in the evening’s final race.

On the weekend, 20 different trainers and 11 different drivers won races from the 26 conducted in the three day period. Through four weeks, Mike Oosting leads in the driving standings with 14 victories, followed by Kyle Wilfong (13), Casey Leonard and Todd Warren (12), and Brandon Bates (11). Trainer Steve Searle remains atop the training standings, sending out eight winners from 33 starters. Derek Burklund follows in second with seven wins, and there is a three-way tie for third between Brett Wilfong, Mike Brink and Ronnie Roberts, each with six victories.

Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago’s Hometown Track, returned for live harness racing on Feb. 15 and races through Sept. 20. Post time nightly is 7:10 p.m. Central. Hawthorne races live during the summer harness meet every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Fall Thoroughbreds close out the year, running from Oct. 2 through Dec. 26. For more information, visit www.hawthorneracecourse.com or contact Hawthorne at 708.780.3700.