Fast Track In Wednesday's Harness Races

ALTAMONT -- It was a fast track Wednesday as harness racing took the field at the Effingham County Fair.

The fastest time of the week came in the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Colt Pace. Michael Rogers, who moved into third place on the winningest driver's list, took Lilys Real Boy to the victory. Sirius Speedway took the early lead with Mykindanight in second. Lilys Real Boy made a fast move on the outside for the lead. Lilys Real Boy, who finished second earlier in the week at the fair, moved it into high gear going 59.1 at the half and 1:30 3/5 after three quarters.

Rogers and Lilys Real Boy finished up winning by seven lengths for the 36th career victory for the eight-year-old gelding. Rogers now has 50 vicrtories at the Effingham County Fair, trailing leader Randall Finn, who was behind Sirius Speedway this race, with 120 and J.D. Finn with 57. Lilys Real Boy won with the fastest time of the meet so far, two minutes flat.

The second race, the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly Trot was a also fast one. Lous Game N Match, with 30 wins, went to the early lead but Cinder Norma moved up to trot side-by-side. Need To Focus, whose mom Refocus holds the 2-year-old trot record at the Effingham County Fair, closed the gap at the three quarter mile mark. But Cinder Norma continued to hold the lead and finshed winning by half a length for driver Wyatt Avenatti in 2:01. The field had a 29 4/5 opening quarter and went past the halfway mark in :59 4/5. The third quarter was clocked at 1:30 2/5.

That win and the victory in the opening race of the day pulled Wyatt Avenatti into second place past his brother Matthew in the driver's standings behind Freddie Patton Jr.

In the opening race of the day, Fox Valley Conquer, driven by Avenatti, took the win in 2:06 3/5.

The third race, the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Colt Trot, went to Majistic Caprice. Driven by Ronnie Gillespie, Majistic Caprice went out to the lead with Freddie Da Fox second by a neck. The three horses went single file with Majistic Caprice moving to a five length lead at the halfway point. The 2:04 victory was the 20th career for the colt.

Gillespie then picked up a back-to-back win behind Prettyfaceuglyways in race four. The filly claimed the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly Pace with a time of 2:03 3/5. Prettyfaceuglyways flew out to the lead and led by a length and a half. Queen Beatrice made a move down the homestretch but Prettyfaceuglyways was stubborn and held on for the victory.

The Topline 2-Year-Old Trot went to Screaming Luck. Driven by Wyatt Avenatti, Screaming Luck was in second behind Pilgrim's Holly, driven by Ronnie Gillespie. Unfortunately for Gillespie, Pilgrim's Pride broke stride and Screaming Luck capitalized for its first career victory in three starts. After a 13 length loss at Newton and an 11 length loss at Champaign, Screaming Luck took this one in 2:13 2/5.

That victory gave Wyatt Avenatti $50 bonus for the Topline driver of the day.

It was a three-horse field in the seventh race, the Non-winners $3,500 Lifetime Pace. The Real Rock was first out but all three hoeses were in it. Cassie Marie's T T was second with Fox Valley Stuart third. Real Rock had a two length lead on the backstretch but Cassie Marie's T T closed the gap to A length and moved to the outside to win by a nose in 2:04 1/5 for driver C. Alan Finn.

The final race of the day, the Open Trot, was an all-Avenatti affair. David Avanetti, the dad, drove Pauline's Ashley while sons  Matthew led Threeupthreedown and Wyatt guided Valley Sienna. The sons went 1-2 with dad trailing through the race. Threupthreedown led down the stretch and finished out winning in 2:04 2/5. His younger brother Wyatt took second and dad was third.

Wednesday's Race Results

Race One

Topline 2-Year-Old Pace

Total Purse: $2,500

1. Fox Valley Conquer (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Union Bell (C. Alan Finn)

Time -- :33 1/5, 1:05 3/5, 1:37, 2:06 3/5.

Race Two

Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly Trot

Total Purse: $1,1875

1. Cinder Norma (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Need To Focus (Jamaica Patton), 3. Lous Game N Match (Wm. Larry Binkley), 4. Hoosier Kim (Harold Finn Jr.), 5. Sunny Sasha (Chris Brown)

Scratched -- Shady Maple Valley

Time -- :29.4/5, :59 4/5, 1:30 2/5, 2:01

Race Three

Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Colt Trot

Total Purse: $1,875

1. Prettyfaceuglyways (Ronnie Gillespie), 2. Queen Beatrice (David Lohman), 3. Angel Dance (Jamaica Patton)

Time -- :32 2/5, 1:04 3/5, 1:35 1/5, 2:03 3/5.

Race Four

Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Colt Pace

Total Purse: $1,875

1. Majistic Caprice (Ronnie Gillespie), 2. Freddie Da Fox (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. Ec Big Guy (Ray Gash)

Time -- :32 1/5, 1:02 1/5, 1:34 2/5, 2:04.

Race Five

Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Colt Pace

Total Purse: $1,875

1. Lilys Real Boy (Michael Rogers), 2. Sirius Speedway (Randall Finn), 3. Hardhead'slilchris (Larry Plank), 4. Mykindanight (Michael Johnson), 5. Helsenberg (Jerome Daniels), 6. Wanna B Bigtime (Ronnie Gillespie), 7. Mingo (Stan Swisher)

Time -- :30 1/5, :59 1/5, 1:30 3/5, 2:00.

Race Six

Topline 2-Year-Old Trot

Total Purse: $2,500

1. Screaming Luck (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Justa Nother Bag (David Avenatti), 3. Pilgrims Holly (Ronnie Gillespie), 4. Gas Monkey (Freddie Patton Jr.)

Time -- :34 3/5, 1:08 1/5, 1:42, 2:13 2/5.

Race Seven

Non-winners $3,500 Lifetime Pace

Total Purse: $1,500

1. Cassie Marie's T T (C. Alan Finn), 2. The Real Rock (Jamaica Patton), 3. Fox Valley Stuart (Jerome Daniels)

Scratched -- Frontier Willie, She's So Funny

Time -- :32 2/5, 1:04 2/5, 1:35 3/5, 2:04 1/5.

Race Eight

Open Trot

Total Purse: $1,500

1. Threeupthreedown (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Fox Valley Sienna (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Pauline's Ashley (David Avenatti)

Time -- :31 1/5, 1:02 2/5, 1:34 1/5, 2:04 2/5.

Thursday's Race Entries

Race One

Filly & Mare Pace

Total Purse: $1,500

1. Brookletsfoolsgold (Paul Cavett), 2. Khalessi (Jamaica Patton), 3. Seawind Kerry (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Annie's Sidekick (Matthew Avenatti), 5. Watchcircuspace (Raymond Morgan)

Race Two

Nonwinners $1,000 Lifetime Pace AE: 2-Year-Old NW 2

Total Purse:  $1,500

1. Sunburst Overtime (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Mr Dock Johnson (Paul Cavett), 3. Bombay Baby (Harold Finn Jr.)

Race Three

Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF NW 2

Total Purse: $1,500

1. Pink Champion (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Black Rushin (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Cooter Luke (Cassidy Whitton)

Race Four

Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF NW 2

Total Purse: $1,500

1. I'm True Blue (Michele Morgan); 2. Hotel Whiskey (Cassidy Whitton)

Scratched -- Eclipse Corona