He’zzz A Wise Sky (Kyle Wilfong) was a convincing winner in Monday’s Open Pace a Hawthorne. (Four Footed Fotos) 

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA 

 Illinois champion He’zzz A Wise Sky was given a shrewd drive by Kyle Wilfong and the result was almost a two-length victory in Hawthorne’s $11,100 Open Pace Monday might.

 Sent off as the 7-5 second choice the six-year-old speedball raced in his usual front-end style but after a 56 first half Wilfong asked He’zzz A Wize Sky to step things up for the third quarter and the John Filomeno trained gelding did, going from a one length lead to being four lengths ahead with a quick 27.3 panel on a cold (17 degrees) night.

 He’zzz A Wise Sky ($4.80) only needed a 29 flat last quarter to hold off the even-money favorite Ilikemebettor A (Cordarius Stewart) and the two-hole pacer Play Me Rock (Travis Seekman), the second and third place finishers, in that order.

 The victory snapped a three-race losing streak and was the ninth win on the season for the Yankee Skyscraper homebred owned by Triple ZZ Stable of Beecher, Illinois. He’zzz A Wise Sky showed that he is probably just as fast in the turns as he is in the straightaways when he increased his 2023 bankroll to $126,886 and his lifetime earnings to just under $650,000 in less than five full seasons of racing.

 In Monday’s secondary feature $8,000 conditioned pace for non-winners of $4,000 in their last four starts the even-money favorite Tookadiveoffdipper (Casey Leonard) found the drop out of the Open ranks a winning move for trainer Jim Eaton and Onley, Illinois owner Jane Cross.

 With RJ Rocks a late scratched, Leonard sent out Tookadiveoffdipper away from the outside five-slot and the nine-year-old gelding was three-deep throughout the first turn before settling on top with Brandon Hanover (Todd Warren) taking the pocket.

 A 28.2 first quarter on the chilly night was needed to have command and Tookadiveoffdipper ($4.00) wasn’t challenged through the 56.3 half. Casey slowed things down with the Always Virgin gelding in the third quarter while Brandon Bates took Julerica out from fourth and went after the leader.

 Julerica closed the gap between the two to one length at the three-quarter pole (1:26.1), however Tookadiveoffdipper took off and drew away from the field, four-plus lengths the best in the 1:55 flat mile.

 Marshall Malone (Travis Seekman) came from last to win the photo for second over Julerica. Tookadiveoffdipper’s win was the first of four consecutive first place finishers for driver Casey Leonard.