Locally-owned Horse Wins, Jordan Patton Claims Two Victories On Last Day Of Harness Racing

In the Open Colt/Gelding Trot, Fireballs Pride took the lead right off by a length and a half for co-owner and driver Darla Martin Lohman. Fireballs Pride never relinquished the lead throughout the race and finished with a time of 2:06 2/5.

Owners are Darla Martin Lohman of Effingham and Chuck Doehring of Brownstown. Fireballs Pride trains at the Effingham County Fairgrounds.

There was only one driver who claimed two victories on the day and they were back-to-back. Jordan Patton  took I Dreamed A Dream to victory in the Maiden Pace AE: Non-winners of $2,500 in 2024. I Dreamed A Dream fired out to the lead with Grand Old Party second. Grand Ole Party moved into the lead after the half and it was a battle on the final turn. Grand Ole Party and I Dreamed A Dream went head-to-head with I Dreamed A Dream, 14 years old, winning by a nose for Patton in 2:00 4/5, the fastest mile of the day.

Patton then came back in the Open Maiden Trot AE: Nonwinners behind Tucked Away. Tucked Away didn't mess around, stepping out to a five length lead at the start of the race and led by seven at the halfway mark. Leading by a dozen at the three quarter mile mark, Tucked Away ended up with her second career victory in 2:09.

Patton, who had left his driving colors at home, had to borrow an outfit for the races.

In the opening race of the day, the 2-Year-Old Open Pace Fillies and Colts, First Division, Life Turns went to the lead with Windy Knight in second. Life Turns then went out to e a five length lead and ended up winning by six for driver Tony Kimbrough in 2:05 4/5. Life Turns ran the last quarter in :27 4/5. Kimbrough played two seasons for the Denver Broncos and now has turned his attention to harness racing.

The Second  Division of the 2-Year-Old Open Filly Pace was claimed by Sammie Gram and Matthew Avenatti. Sammie Gram moved into a three length lead to start the race with Yf Treva in second. Sammie Gram led by two, then four and finished with a nine length victory in 2:08 3/5. It was the filliy's fourth start.

The third race of the day, the Maiden Pace AE: Nonwinners $2,500 in 2024, Crimson Blue set the early tampo for driver Tony Kimbrough. Crimson Blue was followed a length and a half back by Ivo N Only You with Jacquavyian Carter driving. But Crimson Blue and Kimbrough claimed the victory in 2:08 3/5. It was the second win at the Effingham County Fair during the week for Crimson Blue.

It was quite a week of harness racing at the fair. There were nine races finishing faster than two minutes. The most races faster than two minutes before was five.

Wyatt Avenatti ended up with 12 victories in 17 drives for the week and earned 70 points to take the driver's championship.

Effingham County Fair

Race One

2-Year-Old Open Pace Fillies and Colts

First Division

Total Purse: $1,195

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

Time -- :34 2/5, 1:06, 1:38, 2:05 4/5.

Race Two

2-Year-Old Open Filly Pace

Second Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. Sammie Gram (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Captain Sweetness (Jordan Patton), 3. Yf Treva (Cornelius Cavett), 4. A Realfaith (Douglas Graham)

Time -- :33 3/5, 1:06, 1:38 3/5, 2:08 3/5.

Race Three

Maiden Pace AE: Non-winners $2,500 in 2024

First Division

Total Purse: $1,195

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

Time -- : 34, 1:06 1/5, 1:38 4/5, 2:08 1/5.

Race Four

Maiden Pace AE: Nonwinners $2,500 in 2024

Second Division

Total Purse: $1,195

1. I Dreamed A Dream (Jordan Patton), 2. Grand Ole Party (Matthew Avenatti), 3. Valley Sage (Darla Martin Lohman), 4. Rock 'n Gizmo (Michael Knicley)

Time -- :32 1/5, 1:02, 1:32 1/5, 2:00 4/5.

Race Five

Open Maiden Trot AE: Nonwinners 2

Total Purse: $1,560

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

Time -- :34 2/5, 1:06, 1:38 4/5, 2:09.

Race Six

Open Colt/Gelding Trot

Total Purse: $1,580

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

Time -- :33 2/5, 1:05, 1:36 4/5, 2:06 2/5.