Published on July 28, 2026 9:17 am
Last Updated on July 28, 2026 9:17 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
CHARLESTON — Ten harness races were contested at the Coles County Fair Monday and the first places finishes were taken by 10 different drivers.
No Flies On Me opened the card, the 3-Year-Old Trot. Mike Cox sat behind No Flies On Me and took the trotter to victory with a time of 2:03. Jamaica Patton is the owner.
In the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace, Clark Fairley who owns Illini Deceptive, was in the bike for the victory in 2:02.
Then it was Connor Prather who guided Conagher to victory in the 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace. The duo went the distance in 2:02 for owner James Walden. The trainer is Cole Prather.
The Open Trot went to JD Finn behind Goomster. The pair went the distance in 2:00 4/5. Dennis Gardner is the owner of Goomster.
There were two divisions of the Open Pace. In Division 1, I Understand was the winner, earning the fastest time of the day at 1:57 for driver Wyatt Avenatti and owner Kevin Miller.
In the second division, Life Turns claimed the victory with another fast time of 1:58 2/5. Life Turns was driven by Jordan Patton for owner Jill Brown.
There were also two divisions of the Maiden Pace. In the first division, Gothic Thunder was the winner for owner and driver Larry Plank. The pair went the distance in 2:05 3/5.
The second division of the Maiden Pace went to Swiss Margarita. Jared Finn is the driver and trainer and took Swiss Margarita to victory in 2:04.
Next up on the card was the Maiden Trot. Jared Finn drove the victory behind Trapper. Trapper finished with a winning time of 2:07.2. JD Finn is the owner.
The final race of the day was the 2-Year-Old Open Pace. JD Finn drove this time around and guided Rk’s Upinsmoke to victory in 2:02 for owner Marcus Detweiler.
Racing doesn’t continue at the Coles County Fair until Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. post time.
There is racing this evening at the Champaign County Fair in Urbana with 11 races on tap and a post time of 5 p.m.
Coles County Fair
Race One
ISA 3-Year-Old Trot
1. No Flies On Me (Mike Cox), 2. Lous Lottery (Jordan Patton), 3. Class Comedian (Freddie Patton Jr.), 4. Do Better Dez (Jason Detweiler), 5. Chknlitesandchrome (Cole Prather)
Time — :29, 1:00 4/5, 1:31, 2:03.
Race Two
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
1. Illini Deceptive (Clark Fairley), 2. Fox Valley Barbie (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Super Sage (Freddie Patton Jr.), 4. Rks Party (JD Finn), 5. San Antonio Storm (Connor Prather)
Time — :29 3/5, 1:01 1/5, 1:32 1/5, 2:02.
Race Three
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace
1. Conagher (Connor Prather), 2. Incredible Stevie (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. Smoknthmsomestars (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Drill Baby Drill (Marcus Detweiler)
Time — :28, :58, 1:27, 1:57.
Race Four
Open Trot
1. Goomster (JD Finn), 2. Tankmetodennyland (Jared Finn), 3. Dolleyville Lou (Harold Finn Jr.)
Scratched — Lous Avalon, Lou’s My Number, Lou Bedulino, Frontier Manard.
Time — :29, :59 2/5, 1:30, 2:00 4/5.
Race Five
Open Pace, Division 1
1. I Understand (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Dash Around (Clark Fairley), 3. Ahva Sholum (Jared Finn), 4. Rogers Image (Jill Brown), 5. Rockonbigstar (Connor Prather), 6. She’s Real (Jacob Roedl), 7. Major Pete (Freddie Patton Jr.)
Time — :28 1/5, :59 1/5, 1:27 2/5, 1:57.
Race Six
Open Pace, Division 2
1. Life Turns (Jordan Patton), 2. Anns Marina Delray (Cassidy Whitton), 3. Rock Of Angels (Freddie Patton Jr.), 4. Bingbingbing (Matthew Avenatti), 5. Double Parked (Jason Detweiler), 6. Frontier Fantasy (Mike Cox)
Time — :28 3/5, :58, 1:28, 1:58 2/5.
Race Seven
Maiden Pace, Division 1
1. Gothic Thunder (Larry Plank), 2. Magicinmarch (Mike Cox), 3. Elsie’s Love (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Gd Sandborm (Jared Finn), 5. Skunkalicious (Clark Fairley)
Time — :32 1/5, 1:06 1/5, 1:35 1/5, 2:05 3/5.
Race Eight
Maidn Pace, Division II
1. Swiss Margarita (Jared Finn), 2. Dreamer Mooss (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Uncle Phil (Marcus Detweiler)
Scratched — Premier Juliet.
Time — :31 2/5, 1:04 2/5, 1:34 4/5, 2;04.
Race Nine
Maiden Trot
1. Trapper (Jared Finn), 2. Bills Are Due Lou (Jordan Patton), 3. Woodsideacres Dirk (Marcus Detweiler), 4. Rk’s Daddywags (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Lilly Jane (JD Finn)
Time — :31 2/5, 1:04 1/5, 1:35, 2:07 2/5.
Race 10
2-Year-Old Open Pace
1. Rk’s Upinsmoke (JD Finn), 2. Fredred Summer (Clark Fairley), 3. Late Nite Show (Cassidy Whitton)
Scratched — Four Paws.
Time — :30 4/5, 1:02 1/5, 1:32 1/5, 2:02.