by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL – The second night of the late closer series finals took place on Friday (May 27) at Hawthorne as five finals were contested on a track that started the night as fast, but quickly became sloppy.

The first final of the night was the opener on the card as Bucklegirl Bobette and driver Casey Leonard were sent off as the even money favorite. At the start, the favorite broke stride and was shuffled to last. Likeafireballshot carved out the early fractions of :29.2 and :58.1. As Bucklegirl Bobette broke stride again on the backstretch, Likeafireballshot and Jared Finn continued to lead through three quarters in 1:27. Game to the wire was Likeafireballshot, holding off Ashlee’s Fine Lady and True To My Heart in 1:55.

Likeafireballshot is owned by Finn Racing LLC and Tami Michl and trained by Jared Finn. The second choice in the race at 5-2, she returned $7.40, $7.40 and $4.60. Ashlee’s Fine Lady came back $16.40 and $15.20 while True to My Heart returned $5.20 to show.

The second final of the night saw our second upset, this time on a larger scale. In the late closer final for fillies and mares that had never won two pari-mutuel races or $10,000 lifetime as of April 1, 2016, Jiggles the Clown was sent off as the favorite.

After a contested early pace, 50-1 shot Rocknrol’s Image emerged clear into the lane for driver Tyler Shehan and was able to hold off the late move of Jiggles The Clown. Vorst rallied for third as Rocknrol’s Image stopped the clock in a career best 1:54.4.

Owned and trained by Perry Smith, Rocknrol’s Image returned $106.20, $36.20, and $10.80. Jiggles The Clown came back $2.80 and $2.20 while Vorst returned $3.20 to show.

The third final of the night was for fillies and mares, non-winners of $1,000 per start in 2015-16. Carving out quick early fractions in the slop of :30.1 and :58.1, Young American led the field into the stretch in 1:27.3. Late in the lane, the field spread seven across the track as Matt Krueger and Joyful Game flew on the outside to get up in the shadow of the wire. Sure You Are finished second, while Lil Miss Knuckles was third.

Owned by Orville Rursch and trained by Vince Affrunti, Joyful Game returned $13.60, $5.80 and $3.80. Sure You Are came back $6.00 and $3.20 while Lil Miss Knuckles returned $3.80 to show.

The fourth final of the evening was for filly and mare paces, without $1,000 per start in 2015-16. A field of eight lined up with Fox Valley Charm as the heavy favorite at 2-5. Leaving quickly was Seeyouatthefinish and Kyle Husted, covering the opening quarter in the slop in :29.1. Seeyouatthefinish took the field through the turn in :58.2 and 1:26.2. In the end, it was Seeyouatthefinish drawing clear at 6-1. Feetonthedashboard was second, with Fox Valley Charm 3rd in 1:54.1

Owned by Bernie and Deb Paul and trained by Deb Paul, Seeyouatthefinish returned $15.60, $8.00 and $3.40. Feetonthedashboard came back $12.40 and $4.20. Fox Valley Charm returned $2.10 to show.

The last final of the night was for fillies and mares, non-winners of four pari-mutuel races of $20,000 lifetime as of April 1, 2016. Favored at post time was LK’s Nancy Lee for driver Dale Hiteman. Leaving for the lead was Faithful Friend but quickly moving was Awesum World through the quarter in :29.4. Dali Treasure took over on the backstretch, covering the half in :57.4 and three-quarters and 1:27.1. Mid-stretch, Awesum World came on again for driver Ridge Warren and held on at 17-1 over Eva Bella and Duneside Perttie. Awesum World covered the mile in the slop in 1:56.1.

Owned by David Falzone, Chris Mroz, and Steve Searle and trained by Steve Searle, Awesume World returned $37.60, $16.00, and $8.60. Eva Bella came back $9.60 and $6.40 while Duneside Perttie returned $4.60 to show.