John Haran wielded a strong hand at Hawthorne last week, sending out the winners of four races, all Illinois homebreds. The Sligo native kicked things off on Wednesday in the sixth race when his Markree Breeze lasted to win by a neck in a claiming sprint at the $17,500 tier for non-winners of two career races. The 3-year-old filly had been unraced since December, when she broke her maiden here in her eighth career start. A.L. Contreras had the seat on the winner, which paid $6.80.
