The Illinois Thoroughbred and Breeders Foundation`s big weekend begins at 10 a.m. Friday when 2-year-olds ready for auction work out at Hawthorne.
Friday afternoon, Illinois champion older mare Valid Vixen takes on all comers in the open-company Lady Hallie Handicap. Friday night, the Neil Boyce runner will be honored with other Illinois-registered champions at the ITBOF dinner at Hawthorne.
The greatest conglomeration of thoroughbred stakes races on one card here takes place on Sportsman`s Super Saturday. Four state-bred sprint stakes races worth an aggregate $200,000-added are on tap.
Appealing Piece, Elaine Francis and Morpeth among others compete in the $50,000-added Governor`s Lady Handicap. Undefeated Whipum, Fun Talk and Miss Le Cou head the field in the $50,000-added Violet Stakes.
One Little Hustler tops the $50,000-added Land of Lincoln field. Affirmed`s Image makes his 1990 debut against Hammocker, Mosby`s Warrior and Mr. Importance in the $50,00-added Chicagoland Handicap.
Saturday at 6 p.m., Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg serves as guest auctioneer at the ITBOF auction.
And two more: Six stakes races are scheduled Saturday at Sportsman`s when you include simulcasts of a pair of $500,000-added Kentucky Derby preps-the Grade I Wood Memorial Invitational and the Grade II Arkansas Derby.
Winners all: The Sportsman`s Park jockeys have come up with more than $1,000 to buy uniforms and warm-ups for the 22-member St. Rose School team in the Special Olympics May 2-4 at Stagg Field.