Hawthorne Harness: 2023 Illinois Night of Champions takes place

The best Standardbreds in Illinois for 2023 were decided on Saturday at Hawthorne Racecourse as Night of Champions, with combined purses of $1,175,000, occurred.

Driver Todd Warren swept the two biggest races - the $187,000 Incredible Tillie and $174,000 Incredible Finale for 2-year-old pacers - taking the Incredible Tillie with filly Chickabell (by Somestarsomewhere and bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds) in 1:54 3/5 for trainer Amy Husted and owners Husted Racing LLC., Viva Las Vegas Racing LLC., Chris Norder and Michael Argila and the Incredible Finale with gelding Gorgeous Big Guy (by Ashlee's Big Guy and bred by Nancy Roach and Arthur Felton) in 1:52 1/5 for trainer Erv Miller and owners Doug Overhiser and Mark Winship.

Travis Seekman piloted Skeeter Machine, an 8-year-old daughter of Big Green Machine to a 1:53 3/5 win for trainer Nick Prather and owner James Greer in the $45,000 Tony Maurello Memorial Championship for older filly and mare pacers and was back for another winner's circle picture with Goomster, a Cassis gelding bred by Vern Miller, in the $90,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Championship for 3-year-old gelding trotters. Goomster is trained by Desirae Seekman for owner Dennis Gardner.

Another driver who had multiple victories was Kyle Husted, as he won the $105,000 Robert F. Carey Jr. Memorial Championship for 3-year-old male pacers with Fox Valley Landen (by Somestarsomewhere and bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds) in 1:51 2/5, and the $45,000 Plesac Championship for older trotting horses and geldings with On Higher Ground, a 6-year-old Cassis gelding, in 1:55 1/5. Fox Valley Landen is trained by Amy Husted and owned by Kyle in partnership with David Brigham and John Schwarz Jr., while Jenn Bongiorno sent out On Higher Ground for owners Robert Weinstein and JB Racing.

In addition to his victory in the Incredible Finale, Erv Miller also captured the $116,000 Plum Peachy Championship for 3-year-old pacing fillies with Fox Valley Leah (by Somestarsomewhere and bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds) in 1:53 2/5 with Atlee Bender in the bike. Miller also co-owns Fox Valley Leah with Overhiser and George Golemes.

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Saturday night's other champions were:

* Three-year-old filly trotter Bell Boots (by Lou's Legacy and co-bred by owner Toni Bell) in 1:58 for trainer/driver Matthew Avenatti in the $83,000 Beulah Dygert Memorial Championship

* Six-year-old mare trotter Reign And Shine (by Cassis) in 1:57 for driver Cordarius Stewart and trainer Carroll Hays in the $45,000 Carl Becker Memorial Championship. Hays also bred and co-owns Reign And Shine with Diane Hays

* Six-year-old pacing stallion He'zzz A Wise Sky (by Yankee Skyscaper) in 1:50 for driver Kyle Wilfong and trainer Donald Filomeno in the $45,000 Robert S. Molaro Memorial Championship. Filomeno also bred He'zzz A Wise Sky, who is owned by Triple ZZZ Stable, with Joann Filomeno

* Two-year-old filly trotter Stand By Your Man (by Lou's Legacy and bred by Oakwood Farms) in 1:57 2/5 for driver Brandon Bates, co-owner/trainer Mike Brink and co-owners Mark Brown, Jeffrey Clauson and Robert Lacey in the $119,000 Fox Valley Flan Championship

* Two-year-old trotting colt Lous Private Eye (by Lou's Legacy and bred by owner Flacco Family Farms LLC.) in 1:58 for driver Casey Leonard and trainer Steven Searle in the $121,000 Kadabra Championship