Casey Leonard, Hawthorne Race Course’s meet-leading driver to date, had a night to remember at Hawthorne this past weekend, which helped cap a big racing week for the reinsman.
Entering the second half of Hawthorne’s Standardbred season, Leonard held a 26-win margin in the driver standings over Mike Oosting.
The week opened with Leonard winning a pair of races on Thursday (July 20), as he guided two-year-old Rippin An Runnin home in Race 3, followed by Gorgeous View in Race 6. Although Leonard was winless on Friday evening (July 21), five of his drives found the board, including OK Heavenly, who finished second in the filly and mare open pace.
Saturday, July 22 was a night to remember for Leonard. He started off by winning a preliminary leg of the Incredible Finale Stakes with Fox Valley Gemini. He then won with Mykonos in Race 3, which was another Incredible Finale preliminary. After having finished second with LKs Nancy Lee in Race 4 and third behind Ashless Nannah in Race 5, Casey was back in the winner’s circle after Race 6 with Lambo, as he swept all three preliminary divisions of the Incredible Finale.
Leonard then drove Beatrice to a victory in Race 7, followed by Lucy Flew in Race 9. Leonard rounded out his big night by winning both ends of the late double (he won with Dali Treasure in Race 11 and closed things out in Race 12 with a win behind Slzburgerslzburger).
On Sunday evening, Leonard followed a third-place finish with Lous Silver Star in Race 2 by winning Race 3 with Kickinitwithkohler. In the second leg of the Kadabra Stakes, Casey struck again, as he controlled the pace with True Detective and drew clear in the lane.
Overall for the week, Leonard won 11 races, had four runner-up efforts, and eight third-place performances.
(With files from Hawthorne Race Course)