Hinsdale, IL — Defending ICF older pacing mare champ Fox Valley Exploit finds herself in an unfamiliar situation Thursday (July 13) in the 6-year-old’s return to her home state.

The pride of the Amy and Kyle Husted stable leaves the filly and mare ranks in Thursday’s Springfield feature and instead takes on “the boys” after a couple of disappointing finishes at Hoosier Park.

Following a $12,000 Open triumph at Du Quoin in early June, Fox Valley Exploit went unplaced in an Open 3 against the gals at Hoosier Park and was a far back fifth in a $12,500 Indiana conditioned pace that saw the winner Sweet Charlie motor to a speedy 1:48.1 clocking.

Awaiting the Illinois bred mare with over $453,000 in lifetime earnings and unbeaten in four consecutive Night of Champion finals at Hawthorne are seven geldings headed by the Aussie import Montana Chief A from the always strong Erv Miller Stable.

The 8-year-old Australian bred was acquired by Miller in February 2022 and didn’t disappoint his new connections, hauling in over $83,000 and did it often while taking on some tough foes.

Montana Chief started his U.S. career at The Meadowlands and ended the year competing in 13 consecutive Opens at Hoosier Park earning checks in 10 of those encounters. The Art Major offspring picked up two Open II first place finishes including a lifetime best mark of 1:49 last fall.

This season Montana Chief has been strictly an east coast horse, racing at Yonkers, Philadelphia, Pocono and Tioga Downs where he was a two-time winner with former Chicago circuit driver Marcus Miller in the bike.

Montana Chief, earner of over $112,000 when he raced in Australia, will be guided out of the two-slot in the fifth race headliner by Cordarius Stewart who sits atop the driver standings at the current Hawthorne State Fairgrounds meeting.

Coach Cutsinger (Wyatt Avenatti), Downbytheocean (Travis Seekman), Iamamanatheart (Darrell Moore), Killer Martini (Archie Buford), Showboat Shooting (Juan Franco) and Rock Steady Ron (Matt Krueger) provide the competition.

Downbytheocean is coming off a three-week rest after going two-for-two in June at Springfield for the Brett Wilfong stable. The 11-year-old Killer Martini comes in from the recently concluded Oak Grove meet in Kentucky with over $600,000 in career earnings on his card.

Aiming for Four: Later on the Thursday card (race 11 of 14) the good looking 2-year-old trotter Deenbo (Travis Seekman) guns for his fourth straight win and the Cassis youngster’s fifth in six first season starts. Dennis Gardner owns and trains the son of the late trotting sire Cassius.

All in the Family: It’s unusual to see siblings racing on the same card, but that’s the case twice on Thursday.

The 2-year-old Redhot Sky (race 14) is a half-brother to Super Taco (race 12), both from the dam Fox Valley Stefani. Quick Desire (race 14) is a half-brother to Whiskey Tango (race four). Each is a son of the broodmare Dancin Desire.