Local, Area Horses Claim Six Victories

Left to right, Evelyn Roedl, Cornelius Cavett, Jacob Roedl, and ring handler Molly Baldes surround Don't Like School in the Illinois State Fair winner's circle.

By KURT BECKER

SPRINGFIELD -- Local and area harness horses combined for six wins on Saturday at the Illinois State Fair, where a total of 20 races went to the post on a doubleheader program. 

Loyz Say When, owned by Jackson Loy of Beecher City, pulled the biggest upset on the card with a victory at odds of 18-1 in an elimination of the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Trained by Mike Rogers and driven by Casey native Todd Warren, Loyz Say When took the lead entering the stretch and won by a half-length in 2:01.1 to end an 0-for-28 career winless streak. 

In the eliminations for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Fox Valley Cairo won by two lengths as the odds-on favorite for a partnership which includes Dean Biggs of Altamont, stopping the timer in 2:01.1. Trained by Mike Brink and driven by Ridge Warren, Fox Valley Cairo has won three of six starts for earnings of $20,000. 

Get E Up got a perfect drive from co-owner and trainer Kyle Husted of Altamont in the eliminations for freshman pacing colts and geldings, nailing odds-on favorite Fox Valley Ozzy at the wire in 1:58.4 by a neck. Winning for the second time in four starts, Get E Up pushed his career bankroll to $21,000. 
Hot Trotn Trixie, owned by Charles and Cary Doehring of Brownstown, led all the way to pull a 12-1 upset in an elimination of the two-year-old filly trot in 2:02.1, with Effingham County Fair driving champion Archie Buford in the sulky. Trained by Stephan Halford II, Hot Trotn Trixie had previously been 0-for-4 in stakes company. 

In the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes championship for aged pacing mares, Fox Valley Exploit prevailed in 1:53.1 as the 4-5 favorite, with co-owner Husted also serving as trainer and driver. Fox Valley Exploit won for the 19th time in her career and hit the $250,000 plateau in career earnings. 

Don't Like School, owned and trained by Jacob Roedl of Edgewood, also reached the winner's circle on Saturday, capturing a race for trotters on the undercard in 1:59.3. Cornelius Cavett had the winning drive. 

Racing resumes at Springfield on Wednesday at 12 (noon), before the balance of the Illinois State Fair championship finals take center-stage on Thursday.