Friday, December 12 2008

December 12 Cancellation after Race 3

Stickney, IL—Hawthorne Race Course cancelled the last six races of its nine-race card due to inclement weather.

Those who played the early Pick Four will be paid if you had the winners of the second and third races. Pick Threes starting with the second race will also pay if you had the first two winners. All other wagers including the Place Pick Nine will be refunded.

The Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity

A Summer Feeling as Winter Nears

Trainer Anthony Mitchell has trained a couple of precocious two-year-olds, but the ones that come to mind are fillies: Original Spin and Summer Mis. The latter just happens to be the dam of Summer’s Empire, the probable favorite in the $100,000 Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity for two-year-old colts and geldings.

“His (Summer’s Empire) mother figured it out real easy,” said Mitchell. “Some of them get it straight away and others take a little more time. This colt is only now beginning to learn the game and it’s pretty exciting when they do.”

Wednesday, December 10 2008

2009 Hawthorne Stakes Schedule

Stickney, IL--The Illinois Racing Board has released the 2009 stakes schedule. The staple of the spring meet, the Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby will run on April 4. The last seven winners of the Illinois Derby have run in the Kentucky Derby, starting with War Emblem, who won both events in 2002.

The Sixty Sails Handicap, a Grade 3 stake for fillies and mares will be contested on April 18, and Illinois Champions Day, complete with six $100,000 stakes races, will be held on April 25.

HAWTHORNE RACE COURSE FEATURES FREE $50,000 HANDICAPPING CHALLENGE ON DECEMBER 13 AND 14

Stickney, Ill.—This weekend Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie, will host a $50,000 Handicapping Challenge, an unprecedented opportunity for players to win a $25,000 grand prize without paying an entry fee. The free contest, which has never been offered at the race course before, will take place on December 13 and 14 during live racing which begins at 1:35PM each day.

The $50,000 Handicapping Challenge is a “real money” event wherein players wager their own dollars, keep their own earnings, and win bonus cash and prizes simply for playing the ponies. The contest simply rewards the players who earn the most money with their starting bankroll—$250 on Saturday and $250 on Sunday.

Sunday, December 07 2008

Deep Closing Maiden wins Whitworth Illinois Debutante

Stickney, IL—Sometimes a good pedigree can overcome experience and a tough post position. Such was the case in the 26th running of the $107,650 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante, when Ava Mae, a full sister to 2006 Hawthorne Derby winner Best of Buddies, rallied powerfully through the stretch to win the Illinois-bred race for two-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Jose Ferrer and trained by Michelle Boyce, Ava Mae entered the ‘Debutante’ a maiden, having finished 2nd and 4th in her only two lifetime starts, but the connections were confident they had a talented filly and thought this could be a spot to take a chance.

Saturday, November 01 2008

Illinois Festival of Racing Wrap-Up

High Expectations and Stop a Train highlight Big Illinois Stakes Day for Janks

Stickney, IL---Longtime Chicagoland-trainer Christine Janks has made a nice living off many of these Illinois-bred stakes days, but today she might have gone beyond even her lofty ambitions.

Janks conditioned three winners and two runners-up on Saturday, as Hawthorne hosted the Illinois Festival of Racing. Veteran local champions High Expectations and Stop a Train turned back the clock a little as they registered popular scores in the Lightening Jet and Illini Princess Handicaps, respectively, and Nicks won her first stakes race in the Powerless Handicap.

Thursday, October 30 2008

The Illinois Festival of Racing: State-breds Front and Center

Stickney, IL---The Illinois Festival of Racing on Saturday, November 1 marks the time on the calendar to celebrate the local state-bred equines that populate the majority of Hawthorne’s backstretch. And while the progeny of our state’s thoroughbreds won’t be confused with those from Kentucky, many have proven successful when raced on the national stage.

Copper State and Rolling Seas (both nominated, but not entered in the Illini Princess) are two such mares who have demonstrated the ability to compete outside of their friendly confines, by either winning or placing in multiple graded stakes.

Monday, October 20 2008

Carryover “Mania” at Hawthorne

Nobody is more enthusiastic about carryovers than Hawthorne Assistant General Manager Jim Miller. And not only because of the obvious---significantly more action in the various pools---but because the chances of someone hitting it big makes for exciting action. Anyway, that said, when live racing returns to Hawthorne on Wednesday, October 22, the Place Pick Nine and the Pick Six will both offer potentially large returns.

Tuesday, October 14 2008

Yankee Injunuity Discovers Turf-Sprint Powers in Columbus Day Feature

Encore Racing’s Yankee Injunuity, turning back to a turf-sprint after seven straight grass races at one mile and one-sixteenths, came fastest of all through the stretch to win the five and one-half-furlongs $52,250 Don Ciccio Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course.

Sent off at odds of 33-1, the 4-year-old son of Yankee Victor is trained by James McMullen and was ridden flawlessly to victory by Jose Ferrer. The time for the race, restricted to 3-year-olds and up was 1:04.64. It was a half-length back to Chihulykee, who in turn, was a neck ahead of Rock Gold. Piratesonthelake cut most of the fractions before tiring late and finishing fourth.

Saturday, October 11 2008

Blanket finish to Strait of Mewsina in Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby

Far back early and seemingly out of contention, Richard Ravin’s Irish-bred Strait of Mewsina rallied from last to first to win a blanket finish in the 44th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Hawthorne Derby by a neck over Cherokee Triangle. It was only a head back to Snoose Goose in third. The overwhelming favorite Adriano finished fourth, beaten about a half-length for the top prize. Mr. Mischief was a head further back in fifth.

Trained by Larry Rivelli and ridden to victory by E.T. Baird, the son of Spartacus had to overcome a jockey’s objection before the 19-1 longshot was declared the official winner. The mile and one-eighth race for 3-year-olds was timed in 1:49.98 on a turf listed as firm.

Friday, October 10 2008

The 44th Hawthorne Derby

Donald Adam’s Adriano, a dramatic winner of the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park in his most recent start, will clearly be the horse to fend off as a field of eight go to post in Saturday’s grassy 1 1/8 Grade 3, $250,000 Hawthorne Derby.

Adriano’s come-from-behind win in the Kent was contested at today’s distance, but it was run over a soft turf course. His Hall of Fame trainer Billy Mott thinks that Adriano can be even stronger with firmer going.

Saturday, September 27 2008

The 72nd Hawthorne Gold Cup and Co-Feature Stakes

Stickney, IL--Team Valor Stables’ Fairbanks rewarded chalk players with a clear-cut two and three-quarter length victory in the 72nd running of the $500,000 Grade 2, Hawthorne Gold Cup. The mile and a quarter race for three-year-olds and up marked jockey Richard Migliore’s second straight ‘Gold Cup’ victory after guiding Student Council one year earlier.

Always prominent, but content to sit third until making his winning move on the far turn, the son of Giant’s Causeway shook free from early pacesetters Barcola and Better Than Bonds and easily held off a late charge from Magna Graduate, to post the popular score.