Local Horsemen Continue To Post Victories

Apologize crosses the finish line in front at Hawthorne Racecourse on Aug. 16

BY KURT BECKER

Local and area harness horses continue to post victories across the Midwest, led by an Altamont pacer who has scored back-to-back wins in Chicago. 

Apologize, owned and bred by Altamont native Bart Seales, scored a half-length victory at Hawthorne Racecourse on Aug. 9, before returning to win by the same margin on Aug. 16. The three-year-old is trained by Kimberly Roth and was driven in his most recent triumph by Ridge Warren. The pacer has won twice in three starts on the year, with a lifetime best for the one-mile distance of 1:54.

Fox Valley Exploit upped her record to five wins in five starts on the season for owner-trainer-driver Kyle Husted of Altamont, winning an elimination of the Illinois State Fair Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies last Saturday (Aug. 15) at Hawthorne in 1:54.4 as the odds-on favorite. Husted, who shares ownership in the filly with David Brigham of Concord, Michigan, marked his second victory since returning to the races after being injured in an accident at Hawthorne on July 19. 

Justin Roedl of Edgewood realized a milestone on Aug. 10 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds with his first career victory as a trainer, having conditioned Don't Like School to a win in the Topline Stakes for two-year-old trotters. Roedl, who also owns the colt, called on Cornelius Cavett to handle the driving chores. 

In other action, Captainblacksparow finished runner-up at Hawthorne on Aug. 16 for owner Jackson Loy of Beecher City, while Dry Creek Sam recently won at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana, for owner Steve Walden of Cowden in a blistering time of 1:49.3. 

Most stables in Effingham and adjoining counties have announced plans to continue focusing on parimutuel action at Hawthorne and Hoosier Park through the end of the summer campaign.