With the temperatures rising in the Chicagoland area, the racing action heated up as well at Hawthorne as the Night of Champions series races kicked off.
With races filling well, additional races were carded each night at Hawthorne with wins spread amongst many drivers and trainers.
The first of the Night of Champions series races was held last Friday as leg one of the Robert F. Carey, Jr. Memorial, for Illinois-bred three-year-old male pacers took place. A wide-open field of ten was led by lukewarm favourite Ryans Loan Shark. Leaving for the lead was Ideal Big Guy, clearing from an outside draw and covering the opening quarter in :29. On the backstretch, Travis Seekman guided the favourite to the front, passing the half in :57.1 and three quarters in 1:27.2. Pushed along by Ideal Big Guy into the lane with Bombay Bobby and Partyatmosasplace tucked just behind, Ryans Loan Shark wasn’t able to go on. Mid-stretch, Ideal Big Guy regained the lead as Partyatmosasplace dug in along with Bombay Bobby. A blanket finish at the wire saw Bombay Bobby and driver Kyle Wilfong emerge on top, followed by Partyatmosasplace and Ideal Big Guy, all separated by just a head. Bombay Bobby covered the mile in 1:55.4. Bombay Bobby is owned by Karla Santos and trained by Dossie Minor.