Cassidy Whitton Nabs Two Harness Races Thursday, Avenatti Wins Driver Award, Miller Trainer Award

Whitton picked up the win in the opening race, the Filly & Mare Pace, First Division. She was behind Anns Marina Delray. The race opened with Filly's Revenge going offstride and Anns Marina Delray taking a four length lead by the first quarter mile mark.

Anns Marina Delray and Whitten continued on to claim the victory in 1:56 3/5. That ended up being the fastest mile by a mare ever at the Effingham County Fair and the fastest drive by a female driver.

Whitton then sat behind Oscar in the fourth race of the card, the Non-winners $1,000 Lifetime. Once again a horse broke stride to start the race as It's Somewhere went offstride and Oscar went right to the front. Oscar was showing the way with a three length lead over Bluebird. Odds On Cape Coral moved into second but Bluebird moved in to challenge Oscar. Oscar, in its third career start, won in 2:02 3/5 giving Whitton her second win on the card.

Jacquavyian Carter, 19-years-old, claimed the second race of the day, the Filly & Mare Pace, Second Division. He was behind Rock This Lady. One R Andis Star and Kandi's Fortune went out side-by-side for the lead. One R Andis Star wrestled the lead away and moved ahead by three lengths. Rock This Lady caught up to the leader and moved ahead, opening up a two length advantage at the turn for home. Rock This Lady and Carter ended up with the victory in 1:59 2/5. Rock This Lady had won Monday at the Effingham County Fair in 1:58 1/5.

In the third race, the Non-winners $1,000 Lifetime, Lous Palantir, took the early lead and was showing the way at the half in 1:09.1. Jenna's Legacy, driven by 88-year-old Ray Gash, went to the outside and the two horses were side-by-side. Lous Palantir ended up with the victory for driver Chris Brown in 2:13 3/5.

In the fifth race of the day, the Maiden Trot AE: Non-winners of $1,500 in 2024, On Glide took the early lead but Lulling City came on and moved ahead by 2 1/2 lengths over On Glide. Lulling City finished with the second win at Altamont and its fifth this year in 2:03 1/5 with driver Jerome Daniels.

The final race of the card, the Open Maiden Pace, went to Raw Sugar and driver Matthew Avenatti. Raw Sugar went to the top right at the start by a length. Mr Turbo Muffler passed Raw Sugar and went to the front at the half to lead. But Raw Sugar came right back to regain the lead. Mr Turbo Muffler then went offstride and fell to last while Raw Sugar, trained at Altamont by Ray Hanna, finshed for the win in 2:06 2/5.

Wyatt Avenatti wrapped up the driving championship. He drove only one race Thursday for a third place finish but had an outstanding race day Wednesday with six victories and setting three records at Altamont.

Avenatti won the Driver's award with 12 wins in 17 drives for 70 points.

Winning the trainer award was Kevin Miller of Arthur who finished with eight victories and 61 points.

Thursday's Results

Filly & Mare Pace, First Division

Total Purse: $1,245

1. Anns Marina Delray (Cassidy Whitton), 2. Rollnroz (Stephan Halford II), 3. Fillys Revenge (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Ideal Dancer (Jordan Patton), 5. Joanie B (Jacquavyian Carter)

Time -- :29, :57, 1:27, 1:56 3/5.

Race Two

Filly & Mare Pace, Second Divsiion

Total Purse: $1,245

1. Rock This Lady (Jacquavyian Carter), 2. One R Andis Star (Connor Prather), 3. Kandi's Fortune (Freddie Patton Jr.), 4. Drinking And Dream (Jordan Patton), 5. Ultimate Long Shot (Cornelius Cavett)

Scratched -- Shes A Fireball

Time -- :28 3/5, :57 2/5, 1:28 2/5, 1:59 2/5.

Race Three

Non-winners $1,000 Lifetime

AE: 2-Year-Old Non-winners

Total Purse: $1,000

1. Lous Palantir (Chris Brown), 2. Jenna's Legacy (Ray Gash), 3. Dazzling Vickie (Darla Martin Lohman)

Time -- :36 2/5, 1:09 1/5, 1:43 2/5, 2:13 3/5.

Race Four

Non-winners $1,000 Lifetime Pace

AE: 2-Year-Old Non-winners Two Races

Total Purse: $1,620

1. Oscar (Cassidy Whitton), 2. Bluebird Earlybird (Stephen Halford II), 3. Odds On Cape Coral (Jordan Patton), 4. I'll Decide (Connor Prather), 5. It's Somewhere (J.T. White), 6. Apple Delicacy (Jacquavyian Carter)

Time -- :31 3/5, 1:01 3/5, 1:33, 2:02 3/5.

Race Five

Maiden Trot AE: Non-winners of $1,000 in 2024

Total Purse: $1,580

1. Luling City (Jerome Daniels), 2. On Glide (Freddie Patton), 3. High Jax (Jacquavyian Carter)

Time -- :32 4/5, 1:01, 1:32 1/5, 2:03 1/5.

Scratched -- Lous Enchantress.

Race Six

Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2

Total Purse: $1,600

1. 1. Raw Sugar (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Neigh There (Allan Petri), 3. Maybe Tee (Clark Fairley), 4. Miss Tootie (Cole Prather), 5. Mr Turbo Muffler (Tyler Stevens-Clemons)

Time -- :32 4/5, 1:03 4/5, 1:35 3/5, 2:06 2/5.

Friday's Races

Race One

2-Year-Old Open Pace, Fillies and Colts

First Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. Tulip At The Beach (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Life Turns (Tony Kimbrough), 3. Windy Knight (Matthew Avenatti)

Race Two

2-Year-Old Open Pace, Fillies and Colts

Second Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. Captain Sweetness (no driver listed), 2. A Realfaith (Douglas Graham), 3. Yf Treva (Cornelius Cavett), 4. Sammie Gram (Matthew Avenatti)

Race Three

Maiden Pace AE: Nonwinners $2,500 in 2024

First Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. Crimson Blue (Tony Kimbrough), 2. Iyg N Only You (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. I Can Have Mercy (Albert Plair)

Race Four

Maiden Pace AE: Nonwinners $2,500 in 2024

Second Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. Rock'n Gizmo (Michael Knicley), 2. Grand Ole Party (no driver listed), 3. Valley Sage (Darla Martin Lohman), 4. I Dreamed A Dream (Matthew Avenatti)

Race Five

Open Maiden Trot AE: Nonwinners 2

Total Purse: $1,560

1. Gunner Hall (Douglas Graham), 2. Tucked Away (Jordan Patton), 3. Classical Tucker (Wyatt Avenatti)

Race Six

Open Colt/Gelding Trot

Total Purse: $1,580

1. Fireballs Pride (Darla Martin Lohman), 2. Jammin' High (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Noble Prize (Douglas Graham), 4. Emsroscopcoletrain (Jordan Patton)