Published on August 8, 2025 10:25 am
Last Updated on August 8, 2025 10:26 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
SPRINGFIELD — Harness racing got underway at the Illinois State Fair Friday.
Fox Valley Barbie, owned by Altamont’s Penny White, captured a division of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace.
Fox Valley Barbie, with driver Wyatt Avenatti, went wire-to-wire, winning by almost a dozen lengths in 1:56.4.
The victory was the first at the State Fair for White. Fox Valley Barbie is also owned by Bart Seales and trainer Kevin Miller.
Another area name, Kyle Husted, claimed the 10th race of the day, the Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Pace.
Behind Peace Star, the pair went the distance in 1:53.3. Husted also trained Behind Peace Star and is the owner along with John Schwarz Jr. and Mark Winship.
Casey Leonard was a winner behind three horses. Leonard won the Two-Year-Old Fillies Trot with Lous Madison. The pair went the distance in 2:00.1.
Leonard made it back-to-back wins behind Apple Patootie in the Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace. Leonard guided Apple Patootie to the win in 1:56.
The final win came in Race 12, the Three-Year-Old Fillies Pace.
Two Bean Dream won with Leonard in 1:52.2.
Racing continues today with post time at 11 a.m. There will be 13 races. Saturday’s races begin at 10:15 a.m. with two races, 11 a.m. with 13 races and 3:15 p.m. with two races.
STATE FAIR HARNESS RACING
Thursday, August 7
Race One
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Fox Valley Luger (Cordarius Stewart), 2. Hidalgo Otis (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Twincedars Delayne (Marcus Detweiler), 4. Loyz Hank Jr. (Chris Brown), 5. Send It Emmett (Travis Seekman)
Time — :30, 1:01 1/5, 1:31 2/5, 2:00 3/5.
Race Two
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. One Trip Chip (Jamaica Patton), 2. Yf Rocket (Casey Leonard), 3. Call Me Maevey (Travis Seekman), 4. Fox Valley Victor (Freddie Patton Jr.), 5. Louminator (Curt Grummel)
Time — :28 1/5, :59 1/5, 1:29 2/5, 1:58 2/5.
Race Three
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Colt s& Geldings Pace
Total Purse: $5,000
1. Fox Valley Quincy (Jordan Patton), 2. Conagher (Travis Seekman), 3. Too Many Stars (Juan Franco), 4. Fox Valley Endzone (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Meteor Strike (Kyle Husted), 6. End Of The World (Casey Leonard), 7. Captain Bettor (Jacquavyian Carter), 8. Trailerpark Trevor (Cordarius Stewart), Bing Bang Boom (Matthew Avenatti)
Time — :27, :59, 1:28 1/5, 1:56 4/5.
Race Four
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Do Better Dez (Travis Seekman), 2. Lous Venom (Jacquavyian Carter), 3. Lou’s Lil Mermaid (Juan Franco), 4. Illini Charm (Mike Brink), 5. Daphne Duarngo (Chris Brown), 6. Chknlitesandchrome (Cordarius Stewart)
Time — :28 3/5, :59 1/5, 1:31, 2:01 1/5.
Race Five
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Fillies Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Lous Madison (Casey Leonard), 2. Lil Kell (Travis Seekman), 3. Felicia Ofsullivan (Joel Smith), 4. Shesabaddie (Curt Grummel), 5. Broadways Legacy (Juan Franco), 6. Easy Weezy (Jared Finn), 7. Tough Class (Jacob Roedl)
Time — :28 4/5, 1:00 1/5, 1:31, 2:00 1/5.
Race Six
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace
Total Purse: $1,666
1. Apple Patootie (Casey Leonard), 2. Trevors Redhotgirl (Juan Franco), 3. Bombs Away Captain (Joel Smith), 4. Erm Rose (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Wanda Woman (Matthew Avenatti)
Scratched — Jetting Legacy
Time — : 28 2/5, :58, 1:28, 1:56.
Race Seven
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace
Total Purse: $1,666
1. April Sunlight Ivg (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Bet On The Jet (Jordan Patton), 3. Fox Valley Reba (Joel Smith), 4. Captain Gal (Juan Franco), 5. Rk’s Farri Cheryl (Jacquavyian Carter), 6. Helly Rae (Wyatt Avenatt)
Time — :28 3/5, :59 3/5, 1:30 2/5, 1:59 2/5.
Race Eight
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace
Total Purse: $1,668
1. Fox Valley Barbie (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Restless Angel (Issac Love), 3. Tornado Cat (Kyle Husted), 4. A True Trevor (Jacquavyian Carter), 5. Whatuwontdoforlove (Casey Leonard), 6. Trevors Artisocrat (Chris Brown)
Scratched — San Antonio Storm.
Time — :28 3/5, :58 4/5, 1:27 4/5, 1:56 4/5.
Race Nine
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Two-Year-Old Colts & Geldings
Total Purse: $5,000
1. Dooleyvillerephill (Harold Finn Jr.), 2. Double Bonzeve (Travis Seekman), 3. Sonny Salem (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Lous Guardian (Jacquavyian Carter), 5. Big City Lou (Curt Grummel), 6. Lous Mind Bender (Casey Leonard), 7. Rk’s Dictator (Freddie Patton Jr.), 8. Mr Poppy (Jordan Patton), 9. Brown County (Juan Franco)
Time — :29 4/5, 1:34 3/5, 2:03 4/5.
Race 10
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Peace Star (Kyle Husted), 2. Mr Ain’t Goin (Cordarius Stewart), 3. Sleazyandincharge (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Dreaminofbnawinr (Casey Leonard), 7. Frank N Foster (Travis Seekman), 8. Hello Trevor (Jacquavyian Carter), 9. Its Maj Carlbombay (Jacob Roedl)
Time — :27 3/5, :57 1/5, 1:26 2/5, 1:53 3/5.
Race 11
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Fillies Pace
1. Robintino (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. River Girl (Stephan Halford II), 3. Seeyousomewhere (Cordarius Stewart), 4. Sleazylittledarlin (Matthew Avenatti), 5. Rk’s Swift (Travis Seekman), 6. Tulip At The Beach (Casey Leonard), 7. Captain Sweetness (Dennis Bankston)
Time — :28 4/5, :59 1/5, 1:29 1/5 1:56 1/2.
Race 12
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Fillies Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Two Bean Dream (Casey Leonard), 2. Fox Valley Millie (Travis Seekman), 3. Maypearl (Juan Franco), 4. Littleoldme (Clark Fairley). 5. Half Time Show (Gary Rath), 6. Miss Tootie (Wyatt Avenatti), 7. Whatsuputellme (Dennis Bankston)
Time — :27 4/5, :58 4/5, 1:25 4/5, 1:52 2/5.
Race 13
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Jimmy D Shark (Mike Cox), 2. Jim’s Big Boy (Jamaica Patton), 3. Mondaymorningmerle (Casey Leonard), 4. Tonto Returns (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Rks Captain (Travis Seekman), 6. Captain Nate (Jacquavyian Carter)
Time — :28 1/5, :59, 1:29 1/5, 1:55 2/5.