Drivers Standings Tight After Thursday Races

ALTAMONT -- The driver's race at the Effingham County Fair harness races Thursday tightened up for an exciting finish Friday, the final day of harness races.

Freddie Patton Jr. still leads the way in the driver's standings and has three drives Friday while Matthew Avenatti is in second and has one drive and his brother Wyatt is in third with two drives. Patton has 46 points followed by Matthew Avenatti 44 and Wyatt Avenatti 41.

In the opening race of the day Thursday, the Filly & Mare Pace, Brookletsfoolsgold took the early lead and Khalessi went offstride. Seawind Kerry came on to take a 1 1/2 length lead and finished out with the victory for driver Matthew Avenatti in 2:00 3/5.

There was an objection in the field as Annie's Sidekick finished fourth while Khalessi took third. But when Khalessi went offstride, she interfered with Annie's Sidekick. Thus the places were rearranged as Annie's Sidekick was placed third and Khalessi fourth.

Seawind Kerry is owned by Bobby Beachy whose father Dean was a well-known horse auctioneer in Lancaster County, Ohio. Dean and his son Steven (19) went to Harrigan's Bar & Grill in State College after an auction and were killed January 24, 2019 when a gunman opened fire. The auctioneer was well-known and has been greatly missed by the standardbred racing industry.

The second race, a Nonwinners $1,000 Lifetime Pace, AE: 2-Year-Old Nonwinners 2 Race went to Mr Dock JohnsonIII. The winning pacer went wire-to-wire and finished in 2:06 2/5 for driver and trainer Paul Cavett.

In the third race, the Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2 was captured by Cooter Luke. Cooter Luke led with Black Rushin second and held a 1 1/2 length lead at the three quarter mile mark. Black Rushin provided some excitement at the end but Cooter Luke remained ahead for the win in 2:03 1/5. Cooter Luke was driven by Cassidy Whitton.

In the final race, the Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2, I'm True Blue took command early then had to hold off a final rush by Hotel Whiskey to win by a neck in 2:11 1/5. Raymond Morgan guided I'm True Blue to the victory.

Friday's action will begin at noon with five harness races on the card. The Kids Race will be contested as children, by age groups, get to race out of the starting gate. Then Western races will be on tap.

Thursday's Results

Race One

Filly & Mare Pace

Total Purse: $1,500

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

Time -- :30, 1:00 4/5, 1:32, 2:00 3/5.

Race Two

Nonwinners $1,000 Lifetime Pace

AE: 2-Year-Old Nonwinners 2 Race

Total Purse: $1,500

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

Time -- :33, 1:04 2/5, 1:37 3/5, 2:06 2/5.

Race Three

Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF NW2

Total Purse: $1,500

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

Time -- :30 3/5, 1:02, 1:33 3/5, 2:03 1/5.

Race Four

Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF NW2

Total Purse: $1,500

1. I'm True Blue (Raymond Morgan), 2. Hotel Whiskey (Cassidy Whitton)

 Scratched -- Eclipse Corona

Time -- :34 1/5, 1:06 3/5, 1:39 3/5, 2:11 1/5.

Friday's Entries

Posttime: Noon

Race One

Free For All Trot

Total Purse: $1,500

1. Pauline's Ashley (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Ec  Big Guy (Ray Gash), 3. Primed N Powerful (Jamaica Patton)

Race Two

Maiden Pace AE: NW $2,500 In '19 Fillies & Mares

Total Purse: $1,125

1. Queen Beatrice (David Lohman), 2. Locked On It (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. Fox Valley Gstring (Randall Finn)

Race Three

Maiden Pace AE: NW $2,500 in '19 Colts & Geldings

Total Purse: $1,125

1. Invisible Man (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Mickey Hanover (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. The Real Rock (Jamaica Patton), 4. Brush With Fame (Freddie Patton Jr.)

Race Four

Filly & Mare Trot

Total Purse: $1,125

1. Shady Maple Valley (Ray Gash), 2. Hoosier Kim (Darry Birch), 3. Fox Valley Sienna (Matthew Avenatti)

Race Five

Filly & Mare Pace

Total Purse: $1,125

1. Duneside Life (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Fox Valley Maya (Jamaica Patton), 3. Fox Valley Zola (Jamaica Patton)