Hello Sweetie Boy (Kyle Husted) looks to extend his winning streak in Monday’s Hawthorne featured Open Pace. (Four Footed Fotos).

By Mike Paradise for the I.H.H.A.

 Sunday night’s races at Hawthorne Racecourse ended abruptly after only one race because of unsafe racetrack conditions.

 The cancellation had to come to a surprise to patrons and horsemen alike because the first Chicagoland snowfall of season was a modest two inches, it ended several hours before first post, and it had been whisked away by Hawthorne’s track crew.

 The first race went off about 12 minutes late which wasn’t unusual, however it was more than one hour later when Dandy’s Ms Swifty rolled to her second race victory after leading at every pole in the $20,000 Pop-Up series final for ICF state-bred pacing fillies on a racing surface listed “good” by the stewards.

 It was the second consecutive victory for the homebred Stevensville filly who was nicely rated by Casey Leonard.

 Dandy’s Ms Swifty left from the five-slot in the six-horse race where it appeared her driver was looking for an up-close hole and when that didn’t materialize Casey decided to take his filly to the front, getting there just ahead of the early leader Delight Moon (Brandon Bates) at the first quarter pole that went in 30 seconds flat.

 The 6-5 favorite was able to get away with another 30 second panel with the 2-1 second choice right behind her and when she wasn’t challenged a modest 29.2 third quarter was recorded. Delight Moon had dead-aim on Dandy’s Ms Swifty in the lane but couldn’t pass her, falling about a half-length short in the 1:58.3 mile.

 Dandy’s Ms Swifty ($4.60) is owned by her Illinois breeders Dandy Farms Racing (Glenview and Ft Racing Stable (Glenview), along with trainer Terry Leonard (Harvard) and Peter Kouches (Palos Heights).

 The long delay between the first and second race was due to “track maintenance,” according to track officials. Nevertheless, soon after the second race was official, last year’s leading Hawthorne driver Kyle Wilfong decided not to compete for the rest of the scheduled program, a strong hint that the Sunday card was in jeopardy.

  Soon after, another delay notice was posted by Hawthorne. Not long after it followed by track announcer Peter Galassi declaring that the rest of Sunday’s racing program has been cancelled due to track conditions.

 Racing resumes at Hawthorne Monday evening. The feature is the seven-horse sixth race Hawthorne Open and it’s probably the local meets most talented depth of pacers.

. A strong indication is that posts four through seven were all drawn, none were assigned. And you could make a case that No. 3 Captain Sleaze (Casey Leonard), a four-year-old with a season mark of 1:50.1 taken earlier at Hoosier Park belongs among in the elite foursome draw.

 Recent Open winner Hello Sweetie Boy (Kyle Husted) puts his three-race winning streak on the line. To his right is Play Me Rock (Travis Seekman), a three-time 2023 Chicago circuit conqueror. Next is the Night of Champions titleholder He’zzz A Wise Sky (Kyle Wilfong), a two-time Illinois Harness Horse of the Year, and on the outside is Likemebettor A (Cordarius Stewart), another Erv Miller gifted import who won rather easily in is lone Hawthorne Open start earlier this month.

 Clearchoice De Vie (Todd Warren), who hasn’t missed a check in five consecutive Hawthorne Opens, and Fox Valley Ozzy (Gary Rath), an Open II victor two starts ago, with posts one and two, in that order, complete the strong field.