Incredible Tillie champion Chickabell (Todd Warren) is among the Husted stable’s strong contingent of Illinois bred horses. (Four Footed Fotos) 

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA 

 With a very productive racing season behind them, the Amy and Kyle Husted stable are in good place for another successful campaign in 2024, buoyed by several talented state-bred horses, two of which were honored recently as the best in their respective divisions.

 Fox Valley Landen’s domination of the 3-year-old colt pacing division assured him he was tops in his class while stable-mate Chickabell saved her best for last and came away as the ICF 2-year-old Filly Pacer of the Year award.

 It wasn’t until her convincing victory in last September’s Night of Champions final that Chickabell, driven by Todd Warren, earned the honor over her stable-mate Fox Valley Sadie who went onto the championship showdown with a trio of Illinois bred stake triumphs.

 “Todd (Warren) and I went back and forth on who was driving which filly on Super Night,” said Illinois horseman Kyle Husted. “I decided to take “Sadie” who broke a cannon bone the first day of training, and for her first racing season wasn’t quite as sturdy as Chickabell.

 “Last year on Hawthorne’s Super Nigh It turned out the track was a little hard and my filly made a break at the start. Fortunately for us, Todd got away with his filly nicely and landed in a great spot. He drove Chickabell perfectly and won the race.”

 Chickabell took over command on the backside and cruised to a 1:54.3 mile, 2 and 1/2 lengths better than runner-up Hypeyourtieup (Travis Seekman).

 The $84,150 winner’s share of the Incredible Tillie purse propelled Chickabell’s freshman earnings to over $130,000. She ended the year with a record of 9 wins and 3 seconds in her 9 starts, and $137,202 on her card with a runner-up placing in her last race, a Violet stake split.

 While Fox Valley Sadie’s s seventh place finish in the Incredible Tillie final was disappointing, the Husted stable’s 23-1 longshot Fox Valley Gina (Kyle Wilfong) came up big with a third-place finish, beaten a little more than three lengths.

 “I’m optimistic that Fox Vallet Gina is going to have a good season too,” said Kyle. “She got a late start last year and was behind most of the other 2-year-olds. However, she did come on nicely towards the end of the season and she has filled out over the winter.”

 Last year with an ample number of Illinois bred pacing fillies, Chickabell and Fox Valley Sadie competed in different divisions until the Night of Champions. Fox Valley Gina didn’t race against her stable mates until legs three and four (second both times) of the Incredible Tillie in September, and the championship.

 “I hope there are enough divisions this year, so my fillies won’t often be going against each other,” added Kyle, a cinch this year to go over the 1,000 milestone in driving victories. At last count he had 925.

 While Fox Valley Sadie, a half-sister to the stables celebrated mare Fox Valley Exploit ($475,484), sold for $46,000 as a yearling to David Brigham (Litchfield, Michigan), John Schwarz Jr. (Wood Dale, Illinois) and Husted, Chickabell was only a $10,500 buy for the quartet of Viva Las Vegas Racing Plainfield, Illinois), Chris Norder (Troy, Illinois), Michael Arila (Deltona, Florida) and Husted Racing (Altamont, Illinois).

 It’s been a “family affair” this winter at the Southern Oaks Training Center in Sorrento, Florida for the Husted kinfolk.

 “My wife Amy is out there every morning,” continued Kyle. “Her mother went to work for us last summer and my mother is now on the job for us. It’s been really nice. “Just one problem though: When a mistake happens, I’ve got no one to holler at,” he said laughing.

 As they say Kyle, silence is golden.