Hinsdale, IL – It’s time for the first of several meetings this season for the crème of the crème of the ICF 3-year-old pace and trot divisions to tangle.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture sponsored Violet and Cardinal Stakes of both gaits go postward Friday afternoon and they’ll waste no time delivering the anticipated contests. The first nine races on the 13-race program are either a division of a Violet or Cardinal event. First post is noon with a single qualifier scheduled for 11:45 a.m.

The first $17,967 Violet pace divisions is a 10-horse field headed by the Jamaica Patton barn’s Hypeyourbestieup (Travis Seekman), winner of over $85,000 as a freshman and among her five first season triumphs was a division of the Violet freshman contest.

With the rail, Hypeyoybestieup rates a big shot today and so does Fox Valley Sadie (Kyle Husted) who went 5-for-8 as a juvenile while earning over $60,000. She’ll carry a two-race winning streak into the contest when she leaves from the six slot. Nine horses go across the gate at Springfield. No Words Needed (Casey Leonard) from post 10 starts behind Hypeyourbestieup, which should put her in good position from the get-go.

Last season’s ICF freshman filly pace champion Chickabell will make her 3-year-old debut Friday (June 21) in a division of the $17,978 Violet Stake. Patricia Fryman Photography.

Fox Valley Sadie’s stablemate Chickabell, the 2023 Illinois 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year has the 10-hole in the second $17,967 Violet Stake. Since there isn’t an 11 horse, Husted can line her up anywhere in the second tier. The one-horse, Gorgeous American, hasn’t shown any gate speed and the two-horse, Gershin (Juan Franco), is making her first career start, so perhaps Kyle will start behind the three horse (Big Flicka) who is always on the move early.

Chickabell banked over $137,000 in her first season and was no worse than second in nine tries, prevailing in six including a win in the $287,000 Incredible Tillie showdown.

The third Violet division is a wide-open nine-horse field with no clear-cut favorite (if there was wagering) among Cupid’s Revenge, Dandy’s Ms Swiftly, First Of Her Name, Fox Valley Reeva, Illini Belle, Nae’s Rendezvous, Fox Valley August, Adalecia, and Fengshuiprosperity.

The initial Violet trot division comes next and last year’s champion Whiskey Lou (Casey Leonard) will bring a three-race victory streak into the eight-horse contest. The Curt Grummel trainee was much the best in her first two outings this year. Kevin Miller’s Illini Diva (Cordarius Stewart) and Honoloulou, from the barn of Steven Searle look like serious threats.

The fifth race second $22,750 Violet trot looks very interesting with last season’s Night of Champions Fox Valley Flan Final winner Stand By Your Man, who will be driven by her trainer Mike Brink, landing the outside eight-slot after making a slew of breaks last week, her 2024 debut, and finishing up the track.

The Illinois bred colts and geldings get their chance to shine starting with race six, the first of a pair of $24,850 Cardinal events. While anything can happen in a horse race, it would be quite an upset if 2023 juvenile division titleholder Gorgeous Big Guy (Stewart), who leaves from post one, doesn’t win for the 10th consecutive time. The Erv Miller trained gelding raked in $155,880 on his initial card and has yet to lose to a fellow ICF pacer in his career.

Mike Brink’s Fox Valley Julian is well-regarded and did need his last two starts. He may be the main threat.

The second Cardinal division looks like a dandy with several horses that can contend among Guitar Man (pp eight, Seekman), Fox Valley Durham (pp three, Atlee Bender), Feelinlikeacaptain (pp six, Stewart), and Dreaminofbnastar (pp nine, Kevin Lambright). Dreaminofbnastar drew poorly but he’s been rattling off some quick last quarters.

Guitar Man, from the barn of Rob Rittof, gave Gorgeous Big Guy all he could handle last week and was a six-time winner last season. Fox Valley Durham was third or better in nine of his 10 trips to the gate, winning five last year, while Feelinlikeacaptain, unraced at two, was impressive in his maiden win at Du Quoin last weekend.

The two Cardinal trots are worth $23,650 each and Lous Private Eye is the one to beat in the eighth race. He hardly has broken out in a sweat in his first two tests of the year. Drawing inside (pp three) with Casey Leonard, he could very well extend his current winning streak to three.

The second Cardinal looks intriguing. Void of wagering, the likely favorite would have been Erv Miller’s Midwest Division Stable’s Jewels For Champ. Unraced at two, he won in 1:55.4 in just his fourth lifetime start but the Lou’s Legacy progeny can have trouble staying on stride and proved it a week ago. Plus, the draw did him no favors with the eight hole. Assistant trainer Atlee Bender made the drive from Indiana to guide the horse today.

Lous Mandalorian looks like he’s going to be a nice 3-year-old and romped in his last two starts for trainer Roshun Trigg. Don’t overlook Little Chipper (Jared Finn) from the JD Finn Stable. It’s his first start of the year, however, he’s got three qualifiers under his belt and can sprint out in a hurry.