No easy task for Illinois divisional honors – Harnesslink

Hinsdale, IL — When USTA District 5 members make their upcoming choices for the 2022 yr’s Illinois harness racing division honors they gained’t have a straightforward process within the ICF 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing class.

It appeared that when one state-bred freshman pacer would energy his solution to the highest spot, one other would come alongside and knock him down a notch and take over.

The main Illinois bred stakes winners and their purse cash have been just about unfold out amongst 4 children — in alphabetical order: Fox Valley Jasper, Fox Valley Langley, Ghost Shark, and Illini Jetset — and a case may be made for any of the gifted foursome of pacers to take the division award.

Bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds, Fox Valley Jasper, a son of Somestarsomehwere out of the Yankee Cruiser dam Subway Hanover, gained the primary six of his eight season’s begins and banked virtually $56,000 for the Midwest Division of the Erv Miller Steady and Illinois homeowners Bowie Racing LLC and Engel Steady LLC.

Fox Valley Jasper (Atlee Bender) swept Hawthorne’s $50,000 Summer time Unimaginable Finale stake collection and his Illinois State Truthful Colt Stakes elimination and the ultimate at Springfield the place he took his mark of 1:52.3.

However, his profitable streak ended with a fourth-place end in a division of Du Quoin’s Director’s Cup, and he was a disappointing sixth in his Unimaginable Finale elimination and didn’t advance to its profitable remaining on Hawthorne’s Night time of Champions.

Fox Valley Langley, a Somestarsomewhere offspring from the Artwork’s Conquest dam Pink Scorching Woman, rattled off 5 consecutive victories to begin his profession for Illinois homeowners Lyle Lipe and Melvin Schoneweis together with a division of the Cardinal earlier than the Jamaica Patton skilled juvenile dropped a head choice in July’s first Unimaginable Finale showdown.

Fox Valley Langley’s quickest mile of 1:52 got here in his Springfield elimination. He was fourth within the remaining. The gelding was second finest by a head in his Director’s Cup division at Du Quoin. Fox Valley Langley made a break in his Unimaginable Finale Night time of Champions elimination and missed the championship.

The Fox Valley Standardbreds-bred freshman did rebound with a victory within the stake’s comfort to achieve $57,480 in earnings and a file of seven wins and a pair of seconds in 11 journeys to the beginning gate.

The Tim Roach skilled Ghost Shark, pushed completely by Travis Seekman, got here on robust within the latter a part of his 2-year-old season and completed with $63,056 on his card.

A son of Revenge Shark out of the Nicely Mentioned dam Give Up The Ghost, he was at his finest coming from behind, getting his preliminary victory in late August in a division of Du Quoin’s Director’s Cup stake with a season’s finest time of 1:51.3. He adopted it by profitable his Unimaginable Finale elimination at Hawthorne per week later.

Within the Night time of Champions 2-year-old remaining, Ghost Rider was despatched off because the 4-5 public’s selection, had the lead within the stretch, nonetheless ended up second finest by lower than one size.

Ghost Shark made 9 begins for homeowners Kyle Larner and Brian Hochman, with two wins, two seconds and three thirds.

Illini Jetset, one other Evn Miller skilled 2-year-old, solely had two victories in 10 first season begins however one got here on Hawthorne’s Night time of Champions within the $154,000 Unimaginable Finale remaining with Todd Warren at his traces.

The Journey Playlist gelding, from the Actual Artist broodmare Ty’s Artist, was simply $569 from banking a division excessive $100,000 in his preliminary marketing campaign with $69,300 coming in his remaining race of 2022 for homeowners Erv Miller Steady, Bowie Racing LLC and Sara Okay. Miller.

Illini Jetset’s different triumph got here in a division of the Cardinal in early July. The teenager was the runner-up within the Springfield championship, one in all his 5 second place finishes of his 10 begins. He by no means missed a verify in any outing.

As you’ll be able to see, it’s a toss-up for division honors.

by Mike Paradise, for the IHHA