Horses From Husted Barn In Altamont Score Victories

By KURT BECKER

DUQUOIN -- A pair of harness horses from the barn of Kyle and Amy Husted of Altamont scored victories Saturday (August 27) at the DuQuoin State Fair, including a win in one of the richest events on the 13-race program.

Fox Valley Candor took the lead on the final turn and won a $25,000 division of the First Lady’s Cup for Illinois-bred two-year-old trotting fillies, while Fox Valley Exploit used a similar strategy to capture a $7000 race for Illinois-bred pacing mares. Kyle Husted owns an interest in each horse, while he and his wife, Amy, teamed as driver and trainer, respectively, on the two winners.

Fox Valley Candor covered the one-mile distance in 1:57.3 for her second career victory and established herself as one of the fastest juvenile trotting fillies in the state. Fox Valley Exploit, which is five years of age, won for the 28th time and increased her career earnings to $392,000 while stopping the timer in 1:52.1.

Also on Saturday, Fox Valley Cairo took runner-up honors in the $30,000 Pronto Don Stakes for a partnership which includes Dean Biggs of Altamont. The three-year-old trotter has now won $60,000 this season and $156,000 lifetime.

Harness racing moves next to the Pana-Tri County Fair, with post-time set for 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday (September 3-4).