Hawthorne: Gracility out for reversal

In their first and only meeting, Penny Pit ran off and hid from favored Gracility in a Nov. 20 allowance route at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Ill.

On Saturday, in considerably different circumstances, Gracility will attempt to turn the tables on Penny Pit in the Hawthorne feature, the $100,000 Illinois Breeders' Debutante.

Penny Pit, trained by Chicago veteran Roger Brueggemann, was dismissed at nearly 7-1 when she ran her career mark to 2 for 2 in that Nov. 20 clash, having easily won her debut at Fairmount Park. Allowed to go solo out front, Penny Pit was never challenged, and the Glitterman filly finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of the pace-stalking Gracility.

The 1 1/16-mile Debutante, however, could be contested by several other potential speed types, including White O Morn, Summer Mis, and Westend Tapper. Moreover, Gracility drew the rail and Penny Pit will start from the far outside in a field of eight. These changes might well tilt favoritism to Gracility, a Crown's Way Farm homebred trained by Gene Cilio.

The Debutante, which often decides state bred divisional honors, is the sixth of 10 Saturday races. It is part of the Illinois Sires Stakes, which dominate the stakes schedule at Hawthorne in December.

Series events for older state breds were held the two previous Saturday, while 2-year-old colts and geldings get their chance next Saturday in the Jim Edgar Futurity.