Published on July 28, 2025 2:30 pm
Last Updated on July 28, 2025 2:57 pm
By MILLIE LANGE
ALTAMONT — It was Matt Avenatti’s day behind the sulky at the Effingham County Fair harness races Monday.
Avenatti captured three victories in the seven races contested.
Avenatti won the second race of the card, the ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Trot. Behind Lou Beduino, the Jill Brown-trained colt, Avenatti trailed Shady Maple Becker, driven by Avenatti’s brother Wyatt. But at the three quarter mile marker, the colt went offstride and Lou Beduino capitalized on that to move into the lead.
Wyatt Avenatti took the trotter to the win in 2:07 2/5.
Avenatti came back in the next race to again take first place. This time behind Sleavylittledarlin in the ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Pace.
The race went three wide as YF Treva took the lead before the quarter and Truly A Winner moved up to challenge. They were two inside and two outside at the turn before Sleazylittledarlin made a powerhouse move to lead at the backstretch. Sleazylittledarlin captured the race for her first win in four starts. She had gone 0-for-11 lifetime and won in 2:06.2.
Avenatti then claimed his third victory in the Open Maiden Pace. Behind R Nado, Matt Avenatti went out to the lead by 2 1/2 lengths and finished with the win in 2:26. R Nado was trained at the Effingham County Fairgrounds by Ray Hanna.
Matt Avenatti has had a big several days as he was married on his wife’s parents farm on Saturday.
In the sixth race, the Open Maiden Trot, Jill Brown took Durangos Adelia to victory. Bills Are Due Lou, with Matt Avenatti in the bike, took the early lead but Durangos Adelia sat back and waited patiently before taking over at the three quarter mile mark and winning in 2:26.
In the opening race of the card, the ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Trot, Darla Martin picked up another victory at the Effingham County Fair where she is the winningest female in 81 years.
Martin led Bettingonyou out first before Trixies Sugar Baby went off stride. Bettingonyou, trained at the Effingham County Fairgrounds, had 20 lengths and finished in 2:08.1.
The fourth race of the day, the ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, was claimed by Life Turns. Life Turns boiled out and grabbed the lead with Cornelius Cavett in the bike. Valley Sage came on and was side-by-side with Life Turns. Life Turns then opened up on a five length lead for the win in 2:01.4.
The final race of the day, the Free For All Pace was won by Jordan Patton behind Ideal Big Guy.
Anns Marina Delray took the early lead but was rough-gated and broke stride. Ideal Big Guy went to the lead for driver Jordan Patton. The pair still led by three lengths and went in for the victory with a time of 2:03.3. Archie Buford owns and trained Ideal Big Guy.
Racing continues Tuesday with nine races and post time is noon.
Effingham County Fair
Race One
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
Total Purse: $2,353
1. Bettingonyou (Aaron Martin), 2. Trixies Sugar Baby (Darla Martin Lohman)
Scratched — Battleshoe Honey.
Time — :34, 1:05 1/5, 1:37 3/5, 2:08 1/5.
Race Two
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,543
1. Lou Beduino (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Ej Tropical Ranger (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Shady Maple Becker (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Maplegrove Patrick (Mike Cox), 5. Call Me Maevey (Dennis Gardner), 6. Fox Valley Lugar (Jordan Patton)
Time — :32 3/5, 1:04, 1:36 1/5, 2:07 2/5.
Race Three
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
Total Purse: $2,761
1. Lillee Bella (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Truly Winner (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Yf Treva (Jordan Patton), 4. Sleavylittledarlin (Matt Avenatti)
Time — :32 3/5, 1:05, 1:36 4/5, 2:06 2/5.
Race Four
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,784
1. Life Turns (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Tonto Returns (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Major Statement (Freddie Patton), 4. Valley Sage (Darla Martin Lohman), 5. Jim’s Big Boy (Mike Cox)
Time — :30 2/5, 1:01 1/5, 1:32 3/5, 2:01 4/5.
Race Five
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. R Nado (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Captain Abraham (Marcus Detweiler), 3. Gorgeous Stella (Alan Finn)
Time — :31, 1:01, 1:32 3/5, 2:02.
Race Six
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Durangos Adella (Jill Brown), 2. Bills Are Due Lou (Matt Avenatti)
Scratched — Speedy Katty.
Time — :38 2/5, 1:14 3/5, 1:52 3/5, 2:26
Race Seven
Free For All Pace
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Ideal Big Guy (Jordan Patton), 2. Fox Valley Tasha (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Anns Marina Delray (Cassidy Whitton), 4. Rockonbigstar (Tyler Stevens-Clemons
Time — :32 1/5, 1:03, 1:34 1/5, 2:03 3/5.
TUESDAY’S RACES
Race One
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $5,197
1. Shady Maple Caddy (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. April Lady (Jerome Daniels), 3. Zambony (Frank Fisher), 4. Zoomster (Dennis Gardner), 5. Hatari (Clay Simpson), 6. Winning Ken (Matthew Avenatti)
Race Two
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division
Total Purse: $1,626
1. Captain’s Box (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Montana Big Sky (Issac Love), 3. Calico Sunset (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Bet On The Jet (Jordan Patton), 5. Fox Valley Mai Tai (Wyatt Avenatti)
Race Three
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, Second Division
Total Purse: $1,626
1. April Sunlight Ivg (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Ms Granttwentyfive (Demarius Wakefield), 3. Smile Eraser (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Obligate (Jordan Patton), 5. Rk’s Farri Cheryl (Ohy’Jaivyian Carter)
Race Four
ISA 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,764
1. Fox Valley Endzone (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Jnm Son Of Star (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Tj’s Pilot (Jacquavyian Carter)
Race Five
Non-winners $7,750 Lifetime Pace
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Rockin Legal (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Rushville (Clay Simpson), 3. Hey Freaky (Tyler Stevens-Clemons)
Race Six
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,600
1. A Realfaith (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Hay Beth (Clay Simpson), 3. My Four O Nine (Aaron Martin), 4. Dreamer Mooss (Cassidy Whitton), 5. Rock N Roll Playa (Jacquavyian Carter)
Race Seven
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Bourbon Hannah (Jordan Patton), 2. Hidalgo Otis (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Battleshoe Jason (Clay Simpson)
Race Eight
Open Colt/Gelding Pace
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Stellar Bb (Jacquavyian Carter), 2. Managainstcrime (Ohy’Jaivyian Carter), Rockonbigstar (Tyler Stevens-Clemons)
Race Nine
Free For All Trot
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Dooleyville Lou (Harold FInn Jr.), 2. Tankmetodennyland (Dennis Gardner), 3. Lous Mandalorian (Jill Brown), 4. Fox Valley Quest (Cornelius Cavett)