by Jim Miller, for Hawthorne Race Course

Stickney, IL — Thursday evening (June 23) at Hawthorne brought forth warm temperatures and a fast track, along with the first view of the 2-year-old stakes competitors for the summer meet.

Illinois-bred 2-year-old filly trotters took to the track in two divisions of leg one of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes while colt and gelding trotters were featured in the Kadabra Stakes, which also had a pair of divisions.

Kicking off the evening at Hawthorne was the first division of leg one of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes as a field of seven competed for a $10,000 purse. Sent off as the favorite was Sis’s Ellie Mae as she was coming off a second-place finish in her debut against the boys.

Leaving and making the top was the favorite for trainer J D Finn and driver Jared Finn as she carved out fractions of :31, 1:02.4 and 1:33.2. In the lane, Sis’s Ellie Mae held sway, winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.1. Lous Game N Match was second, Scarlet Ribbons third.

Owned by James Rine and Charles Doehring, Sis’s Ellie Mae paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.20. Lous Game N Match returned $4.60 and $3.60 while Scarlet Ribbons paid $2.80 to show.

Race two was the first division of leg one of the Kadabra Stakes with Trixie’s Jethro sent away as the heavy favorite.

At the start, Fox Valley Khan made the lead while the favorite was hung wide through the opening quarter in :29.3. Onto the backstretch, the 1-5 favorite, Trixie’s Jethro, assumed command through a half in :59.3. Into the lane in three-quarters in 1:30, Trixie’s Jethro opened a seven length lead. Staying strong, Trixie’s Jethro won by daylight for driver Jared Finn in 2:00. Louscipher finished second while Bands Houdini was third.

Owned by Charles Doehring and trained by J D Finn, Trixie’s Jethro returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Louscipher came back $5.60 and $4.20 while Bands Houdini paid $10.80 to show.

Race four on the Thursday card was the second division of the Kadabra Stakes as Matt Q was sent away as the favorite from the outside for driver Casey Leonard.

After racing wide into the first turn, Swiss Bank took the early lead in :31.3. After a half in 1:04.4, Swiss Bank still held the lead. Marching To Zion moved to challenge after three-quarters in 1:37 while favored Matt Q tipped five wide. In the lane, Matt Q cruised by to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:06.2. Cassisandfifth finished second while Marching To Zion was third.

Owned by Quaid Racing, LLC and trained by Nelson Willis, Matt Q returned $3.00, 2.20 and $2.40. Cassisandfifth came back $4.80 and $3.20 while Marching To Zion paid $2.20 to show.

Race six on the card was the second division of the Fox Valley Flan Stakes with Lous Credit Report sent off as the even money choice.

Leaving quickly was the favorite but she was hung wide early as Dandy’s ESP grabbed the lead from the inside through the quarter in :30.1. After the half in 1:01.3, Dandy’s ESP led through the turn. Moving first over into the stretch was Lous Credit Report, covering three-quarters in 1:33.2. At the wire, Lous Credit Report and driver Jamaica Patton held on by 1-1/2 lengths over She’s Savvy. Dandy’s ESP was third. The final time was 2:02.1.

Owned by Flacco Family Farms, LLC and trained by Roshun Trigg, Lous Credit Report returned $4.00, $3.40 and $2.60. She’s Savvy came back $10.60 and $4.20 while Dandy’s ESP returned $2.20 to show.