Holsapple Horses Take Three Wins At Fair

Kids burst from the starting gate during the races at the Effingham County Fair Friday.

ALTAMONT --  Stacey Holsapple-owned horses have been a mainstay at the Effingham County Fair on thoroughbred day and Friday was no different.

Holsapple horses captured the field in the opening two races and pushed his record to 41 wins, improving his standing as the winningest owner and trainer ever at Altamont.

Schwarzopf nabbed the 4-Year-Olds & Up Five Furlongs with jockey Mike James aboard. Dueling past the stands, Chocolate Wildcat took the lead but went wide at the turn and Schwarzopf took advantage and shot into the lead. A length separated the pair but Schwarzopf finished strong to win by three lengths in :57 2/5.

Ben DeLong, the jockey on Chocolate Wildcat, had a tough ride losing a stirrup coming out of the gate but was able to remain onboard throughout the race.

Then in the 4-Year-Olds & Up Six Furlongs, Pirates On Line came on strong to win in 1:14 1/5.

Thunder Buck took the early lead inside but Relata Ean headed to the front past the grandstands. Thunder Buck regained first but here came Pirates On Line. Moving from third to second and into the lead midway through the race. Pirates On Line took a one length lead at the top of the homestretch and finished in the winner's circle by three lengths. Francisco Giles was the winning jockey for Holsapple.

The victory was the second in a row since Pirates On Line won at the Effingham County Fair last year.

In the third race, the 3-Year-Olds & Up, 220 Yards, the race was over in the blink of an eye. Clown Doctor, Freaky Success and M.C. Bet The Beach jumped out of the gate together. Clown Doctor was inside but M.C. Bet The Beach came on to win in 9 2/5 seconds. M.C. Bet The Beach was ridden by Reynier Arrieta.

Breaking for the lead at the start of the Open 5 Furlongs, Pax Day went from the gate to the finish line in 58 4/5 seconds. Ben DeLong rode Pax Day to the inside of the lane and held off a hard-driving Walt to win by three parts of a length.

 The final race of the day, the Open 1/2 Mile, was being led by Hayday's Payday by a whopping 12 length lead. Unfortunately, Hayday's Payday unseated jockey Vicki Abiles and ran into the infield. The horse was quickly corralled and Abiles was being taken care of by the ambulance crew on the scene and later airlifted to HS HS St. John's Hospital in Springfield. According to Kurt Becker, Abiles had a cut on her forehead and was complaining about her head hurting.

Chocolate Raja, ridden by Mike James, brought home a third victory on the day for Stacey Holsapple in 52 2/5.

With that win, Mike James finished with 16 points to win his fifth jockey award at the Effingham County Fair. He was the defending champion. Finishing second was DeLong with 10 points followed by Arrieta with nine and Giles with eight.

Thoroughbred Racing

First  Race

4-Year-Olds

Five Furlongs

Purse: $1,580

1. Schwarzopf (Mike James), 2. Chocolate Wildcat (Ben DeLong)

Scratched -- Susan's Rap, Mr. Topia

Time -- :57.2.

Second Race

4-Year-Olds

6 Furlongs

Purse: $1,560

1. Pirates On Line (Francisco Giles), 2. Thunder Buck (Mike James), 3. Relata Ean (Ben DeLong)

Time -- 1:14.1

Race Three

3-Year-Olds & Up

220 Yards

Purse: $1,560

1. M.C. Bet The Beach (Reynier Arrieta), 2. Freaky Success (Francisco Giles), 3. Clown Doctor (Ben DeLong)

Time -- 9.2.

Fourth Race

Open, Five Furlongs

Purse: $840

1. Pax Day (Ben DeLong), 2. Walt (Mike James)

Time -- :58.4

Fifth Race

Open 1/2 Mile

Purse: $880

1. Chocolate Raja (Mike James), 2. Absolutely Lit (Reynier arrieta)

Scratched -- Nachua

DNF -- Hayday's Payday

Time -- :52.2