(from Hawthorne report)
Reigning Illinois Horse of the Year Summer Mis won the Governor's Lady Handicap to highlight Illinois Champions Day at Hawthorne Saturday.The six stakes races resulted in several strong performances and a few surprises. Below is a recap of the day's events. Julie's Prize Dominating in Peach of It Handicap
Last year's 2003 3-year-old Illinois champion Julie's Prize began her handicap season on a sharp note, winning the $86,250 Peach of It Handicap. Carrying 126 pounds, Julie's Prize was an easy winner, coasting under the wire a four-length winner with Larry Sterling Jr. in the saddle. Taking over at the top of the stretch, Sterling and Julie's Prize cruised past the finish line, stopping the clock at 1:45.76 for the 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track. Trained by Anthony Mitchell and owned by Richard Otto Stables, Julie's Prize posted her seventh career victory and earned $51,750 for the win. Julie's Prize returned $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-5 favorite. Rathleen closed along the inside to finish second, coming back $2.20 and $2.10 while Invader held on for third, paying $2.10 to show.
(Chart, Equibase)Illinois Champ Summer Mis a Winner in Governor's Lady
The same connections that tookl the Peach of It also won the $91,325 Governor's Lady Handicap with 2003 Illinois Horse of the Year Summer Mis.Jockey Larry Sterling Jr., trainer Anthony Mitchell, and owner Richard Otto found themselves right back in the winner's circle after the Governor's Lady. Making her second start of the year after running a strong third against the boys her first time out, Summer Mis broke sharply in the Governor's Lady, setting fractions of :22.71 and :46.46. Challenged into the turn by Ravalli Girl, Summer Mis kicked into another gear in the stretch and drew away to win easily by 3 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:11.03. Posting her tenth win from 18 career starts, Summer Mis earned $51,795 for the win. The 1-2 favorite, Summer Mis returned $3.00, $2.60, $2.10. Ravalli Girl held well for second, paying $11.20 to place and $3.00 to show. Cashmere Miss came back $2.20 while finishing third.
(Chart, Equibase)Shandy Pulls off Mild Upset in Chicagoland Handicap
Asiel Stable's Shandy emerged on top after an early pace duel, upsetting favored Silver Bid and Out of My Way in the $91,175 Chicagoland Handicap. Under jockey Carlos Silva, Shandy dueled for the lead on the inside through fractions of :22.49 and :45.81. Silver Bid carried Out of My Way out a bit in the turn, losing some ground and Shandy extended the lead in the lane and went on to a 1 ¼ length victory, stopping the clock at 1:10.78. Silver Bid held on for second while Out of My Way finished third. Earning $51,705 for the win, Shandy posted his sixth win from 16 career starts for trainer Richard Hazelton. Shandy returned $8.20, $3.60 and $2.20. Silver Bid came back $3.60 and $2.20 while Out of My Way returned $2.20 to show.
(Chart, Equibase)Scooter Roach Upsets Wiggins in Milwaukee Avenue Handicap
Three-year-old male champion Wiggins, making his return in the $92,150 Milwaukee Avenue Handicap, battled to the end but came up just short at odds of 3-5 Win IV LLC's Scooter Roach, who snuck in between runners to win by a half-length. Wiggins and jockey Eusebio Razo, Jr. made their move in the turn. Taking the lead in the stretch, Wiggins had to hold off challenges by Garesche, Classic Appeal and Act of War and was able to do so successfully, but he couldn't beat Scooter Roach and jockey Jesse Campbell as they crossed the line first. Stopping the clock for the 1 1/6 miles in 1:46.57, Scooter Roach earned $51,840 for the victory. The winner of the Grade 3, $250,000 Hawthorne Derby on the turf in 2002, Scooter Roach posted his sixth win from 29 career starts, winning on Saturday for trainer Michele Boyce. Scooter Roach returned $28.00, $5.80 and $2.60 for trainer Michele Boyce. Wiggins came back $2.60 and $2.10 while Act of War returned $2.60 to show.
(Chart, Equibase)Coletti Entry runs 1-2 in Lady Hallie Stakes
Trainer E.J. Coletti, Jr. wasn't messing around when he put a pair of runners in the $92,850 Lady Hallie Stakes. Running away with the race was the maiden Slewville and jockey Hiram Rivera, taking over from Lady Laverne in the stretch and winning by 4 ¼ lengths. Lady Laverne broke sharply in her second career start, passing the quarter in :22.62 and the half in :47.08. Tiring a bit in the stretch, Slewville closed on her outside to take over while stablemate Wish For Gold was also charging up late. Slewville stopped the clock for the six furlongs in 1:12.37. For her Illinois debut victory, Slewville earned $55,710 for owner Everest Stables, Inc. The entry returned $6.00, $6.60 and $3.60. Lady Laverne held on for third, returning $4.40 to show.
(Chart, Equibase)Prairie King Rolls By Late in Land of Lincoln Stakes
Prairie King was beaten by Jaguar Friend the prior two times they met but he was able to turn the tables in Saturday's $94,350 Land of Lincoln Stakes. Content to race at the back of the pack early, he started easing his way into contention coming out of the turn, but he was still in sixth at the top of the stretch. Jaguar Friend had assumed the lead but was obviously starting to tire. Prairie King, with Carlos Silva aboard, was relentless. He wore down Jaguar Friend and managed to get up by a head at the wire. For the victory, Prairie King earned $56,610, boosting her career earnings to $104,984 The win, the second of the day for the team of Richard Hazelton and Carlos Silva, was Prairie King's third in six races and his first stakes victory. They covered the six furlongs in 1:13.10 after fractions of 22.27; 46.89; and 59.77. Prairie King, the second choice in the wagering, paid $8.80, $3.60, and $2.80. Jaguar Friend, the favorite, paid $3.20 and $2.60, Medicine Eyes, two and a half lengths back, returned $9.80 as part of the mutuel field.
(Chart, Equibase)