Hinsdale, IL — Illinois bred veteran trotter Talk About Valor continued his season’s dominance on Sunday (Aug. 28) at Hawthorne while the Australian bred newcomer Im Sir Blake A showed his Aussie back class in his local debut with a stress-free victory.

Talk About Valor, the 9-5 second choice in the wagering, is in the midst of another banner year for trainer Gerald Hanson and showed it again Sunday night, digging in when it counted to gain a rather comfortable two-length, front-end victory over the 2-5 favorite Jack Vernon (Todd Warren) in the $12,300 Open Trot.

Talk About Valor chalked up his tenth victory of the year in Sunday night’s Open Trot at Hawthorne. Four Footed Fotos photo.

Flawlessly rated by driver Travis Seekman, Talk About Valor ($5.80) shot out from the outside five slot at the start, as did Jack Vernon from the four. The 2021 ICF Older Male Trotter of the Year made the front in the first turn as Warren was content to take the two-hole trip behind the Yankee Valor gelding.

Talk About Valor coasted to a :58 half with the public’s choice on his back. After reaching the three-quarters in 1:27.1, Jack Vernon came out for the stretch drive and tried to overtake the leader. However, Talk About Valor had plenty left and had no trouble putting away the bid by Sunday night’s chief rival. Louzotic was a non-threatening third.

The victory was Talk About Valor’s tenth in 16 season’s starts for owner Shelley Steele and the 7-year-old gelding’s 26th in 73 career starts.

Im Sir Blake A showed why he was one of the elite horses in Australia before coming to the United States a couple of years ago, blowing away a Hawthorne Open Pace field with Atlee Bender along for the ride.

The betting public had it right when they bet down the 7-year-old Aussie gelding to 2-5 odds. Saddled with the outside seven post, Im Sir Blake A ($2.80) had to work to grab command away from Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) going three-wide in the first turn to do it.

After a soft :28.1 fist panel, Im Sir Blake A sped to a :27.1 second quarter (:55.2 half). A :28 third quarter set things up for the horse’s first get-go on Hawthorne’s long stretch, and the winner of more than $300,000 lifetime loved it, breezing in 1:50.1 by 4-1/2 lengths under a firm hold. Fox Valley Gemini was second best while Play Me Rock (Travis Seekman) came on for third.

Trained by the Erv Miller Midwest Division, Im Sir Blake A was brought to this country by owner Doug Overhiser and has won races at Yonkers, The Meadowlands, Pocono, Saratoga, and Tioga Downs over a two-year span in the USA.

A win Monday night would push Late Night Date A’s season’s earnings over the $50,000 mark for Illinois owners Douglas Overhiser, Dandy Farms Racing and FT Racing Stable.