Fast Track Brings Big 10 Records In Harness Racing

ALTAMONT -- Four Big 10 races were contested at the Effingham County Fair during the harness racing card Tuesday and the track proved to be smoking fast.

The first race of the day, the Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Pace had quite a finish. Mommy Said Nonono took the early lead and held it by two lengths at the halfway point. Mommy Said Nonono was challenged by Ellis Gray at the three quarter mile marker and Aniemaybombay came up to make it a three-way run to the wire.

Mommy Said Nonono claimed first place with the fastest time in the Big 10 for 2-year-old filly pacers this summer in 2:05 4/5. Meanwhile, Ellis Gray and Aniemaybombay finished in a deadheat for second.

Driving Mommy Said Nonono was Wyatt Avenatti from Chrisman, who a year ago was battling Lymphoma but recently got a clean bill of health. Even better, Avenatti was married in June.

The second race, the Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace also brought a hot time on the track.

Spoken For took the early lead by a length. Illini Storm quickened the pace in second and challenged at the three quarter mile mark. But Spoken For and driver Darla Martin Lohman fought off the challenge. The 2-year-olds rolled home with another outstanding time in 2:04 4/5.

Effingham's Martin Lohman took Spoken For to the fastest pace by a 2-year-old colt/gelding this year in the Big 10 and pushed its lead to 22 points.

Cupcake Cassi took the early lead, lost it then came on strong to win the Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, also with the fastest time in the Big 10 this summer.

Only two horses were in the mix, but the pair battled hard down the homestretch to give the crowd a thrill. Cupcake Cassi, who was bred and grew up at Fair Meadow Farm in Altamont, pulled out the victory for driver Jamaica Patton in 2:11 2/5.

Cupcake Cassi added to her win total and now sports 10 victories in 14 starts with a second and a third. Pam Coleman had a hand in naming her, calling the filly her Little Cupcake.

In the final Big 10 race, the 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot, it was another exciting finish with Choochy edging Aqua's Bud. Aqua's Bud went out to the lead with Balance Bean in second. Four horses lined up with Aqua's Bud still leading the way. Choochy came on strong in the final turn, going to the outside and winning in 2:11 4/5 for driver Dennis Gardner.

Once again, the fastest time was registered making all four Big Ten races at the Altamont track the fastest of the season.

The quick times continued in the fifth race, the Free For All Trot. Locally-owned horses Easy Eo and Don't Like School ended up duking it out down the homestretch.

Easy Eo took the early lead for Brownstown owners, the Doerhings. But Don't Like School, owned and trained by Jacob Roedl of Edgewood, came on to win with the fastest mile of the day. Driver Cornelius Cavett took Don't Like School to the win in 2:04 2/5.

The fastest mile of the day came in the final race, the Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2.

Preachers Party flashed speed early and took the lead. Ara Dash came from last to within a length of the leader.

Then on the final turn down the homestretch, it was four horses wide as all four ended in a photo finish.

The photo showed Ara Dash, with driver Cornelius Cavett, taking first place with the fastest time of the day at 2:04. Ara Dash garnered the $25.

Matthew Avenatti still holds the driver's lead with 32 points followed by Freddie Patton Jr, last year's winner, with 25. Cornelius Cavett moved into third with 20 points and Darla Martin Lohman stands in fourth with 19. Fifth is held by Jamaica Patton with 14.

Racing continues Wednesday with eight races on the card and a 1 p.m. start.

Tuesday's Results

Race One

Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

Total Purse: $2,213

1. Mommy Said Nonono (Wyatt Avenatti), Deadheat 2. Ellis Gray (Darla Martin Lohman), Deadheat 2. Aniemaybombay (Cornelius Cavett), 4. Crusing Western (Jacob Roedl)

Time -- :31 2/5, 1:04, 1:35 4/5, 2:05 4/5.

Race Two

Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace

Total Purse: $2,163

1. Spoken For (Darla Martin Lohman), 2. Illini Storm (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. Josie Rocksmyworld (Michele Weinmann), 4. Debbie's Roman (Cornelius Cavett)

Time -- :33, 1:05 2/5, 1:36 1/5, 2:04 4/5.

Race Three

Big 10-Year-Old Filly Trot

Total Purse: $2,015

1. Cupcake Cassi (Jamaica Patton), 2. Ima Cheaten Girl (Cornelius Cavett)

Time -- :34, 1:07 1/5, 1:40 4/5, 2:11 2/5.

Race Four

Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot

Total Purse: $2,274

1. Choochy (Dennis Gardner), 2. Aqua's Bud (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Rocking Rs Jesse (Freddie Patton Jr.), 4. Balance Bean (Cornelius Cavett), 5. Upfront Flight (Jamaica Patton)

Scratched -- Candy Crush

Time -- :34, 1:06 4/5, 1:40 2/5, 2:11 4/5.

Race Five

Free For All Trot

Total Purse: $1,560

1. Don't Like School (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Easy Eo (Stephan Halford II), 3. Freddie Da Fox (Matthew Avenatti)

Time -- :31, 1:02 2/5, 1:34 2/5, 2:04 2/5.

Race Six

Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2

1. Ara Dash (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Partyatthebeach (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Preachersaynomore (Jordan Patton), 4. L L Gram (Matthew Avenatti)

Time -- :30 1/5, 1:01 4/5, 1:34, 2:04.

Wednesday Entries

1 p.m. Post Time

Race One

Downstate Classic Al Jeffers Memorial

3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Total Purse: $8,703

1. Loulita (Steven Searle), 2. Lous LIvia (Kyle Husted), 3. Lous Voodoo Woman (Chris Brown)

Race Two

Downstate Classic Al Jeffers Memorial

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot, Division 1

Total Purse: $5,551

1. Loyz Say When (Michael Rogers), 2. Emsroscopcoletrain (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Te's Game Changer (Chris Brown), 4. Shady Maple Spirit (Dennis Gardner), 5. Sumbodygetdisfool (Archie Buford)

Race Three

Downstate Classic Al Jeffers Memorial

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot, Division 2

Total Purse: $5,551

1. Shady Maple Valor (Michael Rogers), 2. Big Approach (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Rndmnunpreditable (Steven Searle), 4. Mystical Murray (Jamaica Patton)

Race Four

Downstate Classic al Jeffers Memorial

3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Total Purse: $9,403

1. Bootsy Bombay (Nick Prather), 2. Asah Da Pacea (Michael Rogers), 3. Pure Sin (Jordan Patton), 4. Ryans Secret (Archie Buford), 5. Dandys Duchess (Jamaica Patton), 6. Kandi's Fortune (Freddie Patton Jr.)

Race Five

Downstate Classic Al Jeffers Memorial

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace

Total Purse: $9,703

1. Bombay Bobby (Juan Franco), 2. Rc's Tuffttiger (Archie Buford), 3. Ryans Loan Shark (Travis Seekman), 4. Sportsmadness (Matthew Avenatti), 5. Sage' N Fra (Darla Martin Lohman)

Race Six

Non-winners $3,500 Lifetime Pace

Total Purse: $1,600

1. The Last Chance (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Allen (Archie Buford), 3. Fox Valley Danice (R. Kevin Bender), 4. Drops Of Desire (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Overflow (Freddie Patton Jr.)

Race Seven

Open Nonwinners 2 Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 3

Total Purse: $1,560

1. Illustrate (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Te's Smoothas Silk (Chris Brown), 3. Midnight Special (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Shabazz (Matthew Avenatti)

Race Eight

Open Colt/Gelding Pace

Total Purse: $1,560

1. Sergeant Highway (Cassidy Whitton), 2. Gabe Henry (Thomas Graham Jr.), 3. Mingo (Stan Swisher)