Randall Finn Racks Up Another Win At Effingham County Fair Racing

Randall Finn guides Sirius Speedway to victory Monday in the Big 10 3-Year-Old Pace. Finn is followed by Michael Knicley with Duneside Charlie in second and Darla Martin Lohman with Susan Sage in third.

                                                                                                                                      Kurt Becker Photo

ALTAMONT -- Randall Finn just continues to gather harness racing victories at the Effingham County Fair.

The winningest driver in the fair's history with well over a hundred, Finn moved that figure up with a victory in the Big 10 3-Year-Old Pace Monday afternoon at the fairgrounds. Finn quickly took the lead behind Sirius Speedway and was in command the rest of the way.

Sirius Speedway is a half brother to Madoff, another Finn horse that has won more races than any other horse at the Altamont-based fair.

Finn took Sirius Speedway to the victory in 2:03 3/5 for his fourth of the season.

In the opening race of the day, Shady Maple Valley was a winner with Ray Gash behind in the sulky. Shady Maple Valley took the early lead and held off Skillful Quacker for the win in 2:09.

The second race went to Majistic Caprice. After a victory at Charleston, the Ronnie Gillespie colt was offstride as were J's Breeze and Mt Erie Mafia early in the race.

Aqua Man was the lone horse that stayed onstride and held the lead for quite a while. Majistic Caprice came on at the three-quarter mile marker and led by five lengths at the final turn. The colt won in 2:10 4/5.

The No. 4 race, the Free For All Trot was just that, a free-for-all. Show Stoppin Monkey, who had picked up six victories so far this season, took the early lead. Macie Rae rolled up to trot aloneside Show Stoppin Monkey. Macie Rae took the lead but Defend The Rock came on to lead towards the top of the stretch.

Carl Becker's call 'trotters are coming from everywhere' saw a bunch coming down the homestretch. But Defend The Rock ended up with the victory in 2:04. Owned by Rodney Winters of Altamont, the winner is trained by Michael Rogers and was driven to the win by Rick Finn. The victory was his first of the year.

The final race of the card, the Maiden Pace, went to Rockin Roxine. Rockin Roxine fired out to the lead then had to hold off two other pacers down the stretch as they went three wide.

The winner went wire-to-wire for driver Dakota Birch in 2:04 2/5.

Racing continues Tuesday with six heats on tap.

The winner of the name a colt contest went to Hallie Morrison of Beecher City. Her name for the colt at Fair Meadow Farm was Brush With Fame.

Monday's Results

Race One

Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

1. Shady Maple Valley (Ray Gash), 2. Skillful Quacker (Douglas Graham), 3. Drinks On Betsy (Paul Cavett), 4. Undeniable Emotion (Michael Rogers), 5. Independent Lilgal (Jerry Mims)

Time -- :33, 1:06 4/5, 1:38 1/5, 2:09

Race Two

Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt Trot

1. Majistic Caprice (Ronnie Gillespie), 2. Aqua Man (Jerry Mims), 3. J's Breeze (Chris Brown), 4. Mt Erie Mafia (J.D. Finn)

Time -- :34, 1:08 1/5, 1:41 1/5, 2:10 4/5.

Race Three

Big 10 3-Year-Old Pace

1. Sirius Speedway (Randall Finn), 2.Duneside Charlie (Michael Knicley), 3. Susan Sage (Darla Martin Lohman), 4. Unimagineable (Cornelius Cavett), 5. Decorated Dune (Jerome Daniels), 6. Fox Valley Orlando (Wm. Larry Binkley), 7. B Vivacious (Ronnie Gillespie)

Time -- :31 4/5, 1:02 4/5, 1:34 1/5, 2:03 3/5.

Race Four

Free for All Trot

1. Defend The Rock (Rick Finn), 2. Macie Rae (Michael Rogers), 3. Timber View Speedy (Paul Cavett), 4. Show Stopin Monkey (Ronnie Gillespie), 5. Loyz Hanky Panky (Chris Brown).

Time -- :29 4/5, 1:01, 1:31 4/5, 2:04

Race Five

Maiden Pace

1. Rockin Roxine (Dakota Birch), 2. Sugarcreekwillow (Jared Finn), 3. Party Splendor (Randall Finn), 4. Sister Sage (Harold FInn Jr.), 5. Summarize (Michael Rogers), 6. Miss K Sissy (Trenton Watson)

Time -- :31 4/5, 1:02, 1:33 2/5, 2:04 2/5.

Tuesday's Entries

Race One

2-Year-Old Open Pace AE: ICF Maidens, Division I

Purse: $1,225

1. U Making Me Wait (Ronnie Gillespie), 2. Winding Creek Lady (Barak Patton), 3. Frontier Michelle (Jared Finn), 4. Lotus Gram (Thomas Graham Jr.), 5. Day Of Decision (Kyle Husted)

Race Two

2-Year-Old Open Pace AE: ICF Maidens, Division II

1. Rockinroman Reigns (Michael Johnson), 2. Sports Analyst (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Natural Wonder (Barak Patton), 4. Silver Romeo (Richard S. Finn), 5. Perfectly Dune (Kyle Husted)

Race Three

3-Year-Old Open Trot

Purse: $1,300

1. Best Balance (Barak Patton), 2. Sis's Ellie Mae (Jared Finn), 3. Trixie's Jethro (Jared Finn), 4. Lougazi (Ronnie Gillespie), 5. Cinnamon Dunn (Donald Gibson)

Race Four

Non-Winners $7,500 LT Pace

Purse: $1,320

1. Patches Girl (Larry Plank), 2. Cakeatin  Anniemay (Ronnie Gillespie), 3. Always Sammee (no driver listed), 4. Air Head (Barak Patton), 5. Loyz Happy Corner (Michael Rogers), 6. Princess Oshie (Richard S. Finn)

Race Five

Free For All Pace, Division I

Purse: $1,020

1. Lilys Real Boy (Michael Rogers), 2. Henry Gram (Chris Brown), 3. Jaded Truth (Richard S. Finn), 4. Cry For Cash (Harold Finn Jr.), 5. Poker Joe (Mitchell Titus), 6. Onelesslonelygirl (Merle Finn Jr.)

Race Six

Free For All Pace, Division II

Purse: $1,000

1. White Ruler (Michael Johnson), 2. Wh Carmen (Phillip Finn Jr.), 3. Hardhead' slilchris (Larry Plank), 4. Feel My Pain (Michael Rogers), 5. Duneside LIfe (Kyle Husted)