Becker Becomes Winningest Owner, Rogers Pushes Lead Higher at Harness Races

ALTAMONT -- Carl Becker is now the winningest harness racing owner at the Effingham County Fair.

Becker's horse, Duneside Life grabbed the lead and set the tempo in the Big 10 3-Year-Old Filly Pace in the third race of the day. Driven by Mike Rogers, Duneside Life led at the three-quarter mile marker and hung on to win by three in 2:07.3. Alvin Siebert and Jon Becker are the co-breeders.

Carl Becker was tied with 24 wins and the 25th victory pushed him into the all-time winningest racing owner at the Effingham County Fair.

Rogers was the winning driver and took over for Kyle Husted, who grew up locally. Husted is in action at the Logan County Fair in Lincoln and will, hopefully, compete at his home track later in the week.

Rogers added on to his total in the driver's standings with another several victories Monday.

Rogers started off Sunday with three wins and added on to that with a victory in the Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, the opening race of the card, Rogers took Blake Ellie to the lead and held a length and a half lead at the half. Blake Ellis has had five starts this season and won at Champaign a couple of weeks ago. He finished up hanging on for the win in 2:15.4.

In the second race of the day, the Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt Trot, Classi Cassi zipped to the victory, leaving the rest of the field behind.  Clifford Graber, the trainer and driver, took Classi Cassi out first, opened up a 15 length lead and finished with a whopping 23 1/2 length victory in 2:12.3.

Classi Cassi had only two starts up to this point and finished both in second place.

In the fourth race, the Big 10 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, Cruiser opened up a lead but Tha Pipe Fitta and Te's Black Tie remained close and when the three took the final turn, all were in contention.

Te's moved into second and took the lead into the home stretch. Te's Black Tie, driven by Effingham's Darla Martin Lohman, came on strong and claimed the victory in 2:02.4, the fastest mile in two days.

The final race, the Free For All Trot, only two horses were listed and Princess Val went offstride at the start of the race, so it was Defend The Rock all the way.

Owned by Rodney Winter of Altamont, Defend The Rock went the distance for Rogers in 2:11.1. It was the third win of the day for Rogers who leads the way in the driver's standings with 31 points and six victories in the two-day event so far.

Effingham County Fair

Race One

Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

Purse: $1,842

1. Blake Ellie (Michael Rogers), 2. T.E.'s My Way (Ray Gash), 3. Zummie Ummy (Randall Finn), 4. Cassis-Silhouette Star (Darla Martin Lohman)

Time -- :34.1, 1:09, 1:44.1, 2:15.4

Race Two

Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt Trot

Purse: $1,842

1. Classi Cassi (Clifford Graber), 2. Stevie's Pride (Randall Finn), 3. Loudanz Legacy (Paul Cavett), 4. Pretzel Power (Michael Rogers)

Time -- :31.3, 1:01.4, 1:35.2, 2:12.3

Race Three

Big 10 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Purse: $1,792

1. 1. Duneside Life (Mike Rogers), 2. Dune On Time (David Fagan), 3. Fox Valley Brianna (Paul Cavett)

Time -- :33.4, 1:06.1, 1:37.1, 2:07.3

Race Four

Big 10 3-Year-Old Colt Pace

Purse: $1,831

1. Te's Black Tie (Darla Martin Lohman), 2. Tha Pipe Fitta (Paul Cavett), 3. Cruiser (Ray Gash)

Time -- :31 2/5, 1:03, 1:33.4, 2:02.4.

Race Five

Free For All Trot

Purse: $1,040

1. Defend The Rock (Michael Rogers), 2. Princess Val (Paul Cavett)

Time -- :33.2, 1:06.1, 1:40, 2:11.1.

Tuesday's Entries

Race One

2-Year-Old Open Pace AE: ICF Maidens

Purse:  $1,260

1. Herehecomesarockin (Jared Finn), 2. Bigger N Better (Jared Finn), 3. Scenic Cruise (Ray Gash)

Race Two

Free For All Pace

Purse: $1,080

1. Jaded Truth (Richard S. Finn), 2. Queen  Beatrice (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Cruiser (Ray Gash), 4. Feel My Pain (Richard S. Finn)