Published on July 28, 2025 8:57 am
Last Updated on July 28, 2025 8:57 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
ALTAMONT — Eleven races highlighted the opening day of harness racing at the Effingham County Fair Sunday.
Casey Leonard started the day driving back-to-back victories. Leonard took Fox Valley Tamara to the win in the Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division. Fox Valley Tamara crossed the finish line in 2:03 1/5.
Leonard then sat behind Fox Valley Polaris in the 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, Second Division. The pair won in 2:01 1/5.
Leonard then claimed his third victory in the fourth race of the card. Shady Maple Chick crossed the line first for Leonard in 2:08 2/5.
Wyatt Avenatti also earned three driving victories on the card.
The first race for Avenatti ended in an exciting photo finish. Avenatti sat behind Fox Valley Onassis in the Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes 2-Year-Old Colt Pace.
Fox Valley Onassis and Incredible Stevie crossed the finish line in a photo finish which saw Fox Valley Onassis proclaimed the winner in 2:03 1/5.
Avenatti was then behind Here Comes Bob in the 2-Year-Old Colt Trot. The pair went the distance in 2:07 2/5.
Avenatti then drove the final race of the day, the Open Colt & Gelding Trot behind Fox Valley Quest. Owned by KC Racing of Beecher City and trained by Jill Brown, Fox Valley Quest crossed the finish line in 2:06.2.
Isaac Love picked up two driving victories. Love sat behind No Flies On Me in the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, First Division. The pair went the distance in 2:09.2
Love then won in the 2-year-Old Colt Trot, First Division. Lou’s Tru Lou was the winner with a time of 2:12 1/5.
Cassidy Whitton took two horses to wins. Whitton sat behind Runway Show in the Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2. Whitton, who is also the owner and trainer, guided Runway Show to the victory in 2:04 1/5.
Whitton also won behind White Belly in the Open Colt & Gelding Pace in 1:59 4/5. Whitton also owns and trains White Belly.
In the Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2, Hidalgo Otis was the winner. Harold Finn Jr. guided Hidalgo Otis to the win in 2:11 1/5.
Finn also trained Hidalgo Otis. Harold Finn Jr. and Jacqualine Finn are the owners.
Racing continues today at the Effingham County Fair with post time set for noon.
Effingham County Fair
Race One
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division
Total Purse: $5,449
1. Fox Valley Tamara (Casey Leonard), 2. Captain Ruthie (Jacquavyian Carter), 3. Jnm Virgin Star (Jordan Patton), 4. Fox Valley Barbie (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Wanda Woman (Jared Finn), 6. Dontmatter U Do U (Dennis Bankston)
Time — :30 4/5, 1:00 2/5, 1:32 4/5, 2:03 1/5.
Race Two
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
Total Purse: $5,449
1. Fox Valley Polaris (Casey Leonard), 2. Variant (Jordan Patton), 3. A True Trevor (Jacquavyian Carter), 4. Super Sage (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Valdeona (Archie Buford), 6. Helly Rae (Jared Finn)
Time — :31 1/5, 1:00 2/5, 1:30 4/5, 2:01 1/5.
Race Three
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Trot, First Division
Total Purse: $5,349
1. No Flies On Me (Issac Love), 2. Gj’s Moxie Star (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Chrome’s Heather (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Daphne Durango (Casey Leonard), 5. Lil Kell (Jared Finn)
Time — :34 3/5, 1:05 4/5, 1:38 2/5, 2:09 2/5.
Race Four
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Trot, Second Division
Total Purse: $5,349
1. Shady Maple Chick (Casey Leonard), 2. Broadway And Lou (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Little Brindle (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Easy Weezy (Jared Finn)
Scratched — :34, 1:06 3/5, 1:39 3/5, 2:08 2/5.
Race Five
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Pace
Total Purse: $9,898
1. Fox Valley Onassis (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Incredible Stevie (Casey Leonard), 3. Captain Bettor (Jacquavyian Carter), 4. Illinigameday (Matthew Avenatti), 5. Blitz Package (Freddie Patton Jr.), 6. Rock On Stevie (Aaron Martin)
Scratched — Drill Baby Drill
Time — :31 1/5, 1:01 2/5, 1:32 2/5, 2:03 1/’5.
Race Six
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Trot, First Division
Total Purse: $5,249
1. Lou’s Tru Lou (Issac Love), 2. Class Comedian (Freddie Patton Jr.), 3. Lous Lottery (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Sonny Salem (Jared Finn), 5. Lous Transportor (Casey Leonard)
Time — :34 3/5, 1:06 4/5, 1:40 3/5, 2:12 1/5.
Race Seven
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Trot, Second Division
Total Purse: $5,249
1. Here Comes Bob (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Dooleyvillerephill (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Lous Mind Bender (Casey Leonard), 4. Go Go Go Chrome (Issac Love), 5. Tow Nater (Jared Finn)
Time — :33 2/5, 1:04 3/5, 1:06, 2:07 2/5.
Race Eight
Open Maid Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Runway Show (Cassidy Whitton), 2. Hidalgo Bernie (Harold Finn Jr.)
Scratched — Fox Valley Jo Jo, Sleazylittledarlin.
Time — :30 1/5, :59 3/5, 1:31 4/5, 2:04 1/5.
Race Nine
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $,1560
1. Hidalgo Otis (Harold Finn Jr.), 2. Shady Maple Credit (Wyatt Avenatti)
Time — :34 4/5, 1:08, 1:41 2/5, 2:11 1/5.
Race 10
Open Colt & Gelding Pace
Total Purse: $1,580
1. White Belly (Cassidy Whitton), 2. Revelry (Casey Leonard), 3. Fun King (Wyatt Avenatti), Takara’s Fire (Issac Love)
Time — :30 4/5, 1:00, 1:30 3/5, 1:59 4/5.
Race 11
Open Colt & Gelding Trot
Total Purse: $1,600
1. Fox Valley Quest (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Dooleyville Lou (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Canthayeme (Issac Love), 4. Saint Stephens (Jared Finn), 5. Lous Diablo (Harold Finn Jr.)
Time — :33 3/5, 1:04 2/5, 1:36 3/5, 2:06 2/5.
MONDAY’S RACES
Race One
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
Total Purse: $2,353
1. Trixies Sugar Baby (Darla Martin Lohman), 2. Bettingonyou (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Battleshoe Honey (Clay Simpson)
Race Two
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,543
1. Fox Valley Luger (no driver listed), 2. Shady Maple Becker (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Lou Beduino (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Ej Tropical Ranger (Cornelius Cavett), 5. Maplegrove Patrick (Jamaica Patton), 6. Call Me Maevey (Dennis Gardner)
Race Three
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
Total Purse: $2,761
1. Lillee Bella (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Yf Treva (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Truly A Winner (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Sleazylittledarlin (Wyatt Avenatti)
Race Four
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,764
1. Life Turns (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Valley Sage (Marcus Detweiler), 3. Tonto Returns (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Major Statement (Aaron Martin), 5. Jim’s Big Boy (Jamaica Patton)
Race Five
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Captain Abraham (Marcus Detweiler), 2. R Nado (Matthew Avenatti), 3. Gorgeous Stella (C. Alan Finn)
Race Six
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Speedy Katty (no driver listed), 2. Durangos Adeila (Jill Brown), 3. Bills Are Due Lou (Rick Flacco)
Race Seven
Free For All Pace
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Fox Valley Tasha (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Anns Marina Delray (Cassidy Whitton), 3. Rockonbigstar (Tyler Syevens-Clemons), 4. Idela Big Guy (Demarius Wakefield)