Hawthorne Harness: Super Bowl champ finds winner's circle

Super Bowl champion Devin White, a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was on-site at Hawthorne Race Course on Sunday evening to watch the debut races of a pair of trotters he owns in partnership. Both were competing in leg one stakes action at Hawthorne over a fast track.

In race two on Sunday, 2-year-old colt First And Goal debuted in leg one of The Kadabra for Illinois-bred trotters. Owned in partnership by White and Adam Hawthorne, First And Goal was guided to the early lead by Casey Leonard through the opening quarter in 31 3/5.

Pushed along by Lous Barbossa through a half in 1:01 4/5, First And Goal maintained his advantage into the far turn. After opening up his lead through three-quarters in 1:32 2/5, First And Goal drew off to a four length lead in the stretch, and he cruised under the wire, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:01 3/5. Trained by Herman Wheeler, First And Goal earned $8,750 in the $17,500 event. Romantic Warrior rallied to finish second while Lous Barbossa held third.

In the seventh race on the Sunday card, 2-year-old filly Creations Dream MV made her first career start after a pair of impressive qualifiers over the racetrack. The start came in leg one of the Fox Valley Flan for female juvenile trotters.

Sent away as the favorite with Leonard driving, Creations Dream MV got away in good order and settled in fourth early as Funky Wiggle passed the opening quarter in 31 2/5. As Funky Wiggle led the field through the half in 1:02 2/5, the pack tightened up into the turn. Mid-turn, Creations Dream MV was on the move, guided into third by Leonard as Funky Wiggle maintained her advantage through three-quarters in 1:33. In the stretch, Funky Wiggle was too tough, drawing clear to win in 2:00 2/5 for driver and trainer Curt Grummel. Creations Dream MV put in a solid effort though, rallying to finish second. Lous Monamie finished third. Funky Wiggle is owned by Dr. Patrick Graham.

--press release (Hawthorne)--