Published on July 29, 2025 2:52 pm
Last Updated on July 29, 2025 2:53 pm
BY MILLIE LANGE
ALTAMONT — Wyatt Avenatti put together three victories in nine heats of harness racing at the Effingham County Fair Tuesday.
Avenatti took the opening victory, the ISA 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot behind Shady Maple Caddy. Zoomster and Shady Maple Caddy went to the lead in the six-horse field. But Shady Maple Caddy moved into a five length advantage. Zoomster came on but went off stride. Shady Maple Caddy then won easily with a time of 2:09, a personal best.
It was then Avenatti’s brother Matthew who claimed the next race, the ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division. Calico Sunset trailed Fox Valley Mai Tai who had taken the early lead but had an awkward move midway through. Calico Sunset then kicked it up a notch to move ahead by three lengths and ended up with the victory by eight in 2:02 4/5. That was a happy moment for Matthew Avenatti who was celebrating his birthday.
The ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, Second Division was taken by 18-year-old Demarius Wakefield.
Wakefield, behind Ms Granttwentyfive, moved into a 2 1/2 length lead to start the race with Obligate moving from fourth to third matching strides with Ms Granttwentyfive who was inside. Ms Granttwentyfive put it into high gear to go wire-to-wire for her first career victory in 2:03 1/5.
W. Avenatti, who won last year’s driving championship, added to his lead with a win in the ISA 2-Year-Old Colt Pace behind Fox Valley Endzone.
Fox Valley Endzone was out to an early three length lead with Son of Star in second. Fox Valley Endzone opened up a five length lead and streaked away to finish in 2:05 2/5 for the win.
Tyler Stevens-Clemons was a winner behind Hey Freaky in the Non-winners $7,750 Lifetime Pace.
Hey Freaky took the lead and Rushville went offstride. But Rushville came back to challenge for second. But Rockin Legal held on to that spot. Hey Freaky dismissed any challenge to end up winning with a time of 2:05.
In the Open Maiden Pace Ae: ICF Nonwinners 2, W. Avenatti sat behind A Realfaith for his third and final victory on the card. A Real Faith led at the quarter mile in :32 2/5 with Hay Beth second.
A Real Faith finished strong with a victory in 2:03 4/5. M. Avenatti came in second.
The seventh race of the day, the Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2 was claimed by Clay Simpson and Battleshoe Jason.
Bourbon Hannah moved into the early lead with Battleshoe Jason in second and Hidalgo Otis sitting in third. Battleshoe Jason moved ahead at the quarter mile in :34.0. But here came Hidalgo Otis, who had won Sunday at the Effingham County fair.
Hidalgo Otis caught Bourbon Hannah at the three quarter mile marker and the two were side by side. Battleshoe Jason ended up with the victory by a length and a half in 2:07 1/5 but Hidalgo Otis made a race of it to the end.
It was brother against brother in the Open Colt/Gelding Pace as Jacquavyian Carter and Ohy’Jaivyian Carter battled behind Stellar Bb and Managainst Crime.
Stellar Bb grabbed the lead with Rockonbigstar second. The horses all were lined up in single file at the half. Rockonbigstar then mounted a challenge and Stellar Bb replied. The three horses were again lined up, this time at the final turn. That’s when Managainstcrime came on to pull out the victory for Ohy’Jaivyian Carter in 2:05 4/5. Jacquavyian Carter finished second with Stellar Bb.
The final race of the card, the Free For All Trot went to Tankmetodennyland who went to the lead at the start for driver Dennis Gardner.
Lous Mandalorian challenged in second place at the three quarter and set his sights on Tankmetodennyland who led by a half length. Lous Mandalorian had a final try at the leader but Tankmetodennyland and Gardner finished for the win in 2:03 3/5.
Harness racing continues Wednesday with a noon post time and nine more races on tap.
Effingham County Fair
Harness Racing
Tuesday’s Races
Race One
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $5,197
1. Shady Maple Caddy (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Zoomster (Dennis Gardner), 3. Zambony (Frank Fisher), 4. Hatari (Clay Simpson), 5. April Lady (Jerome Daniels), 6. Winning Ken (Matthew Avenatti)
Time — :34 1/5, 1:06 2/5, 1:38 4/5, 2:09.
Race Two
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division
Total Purse: $1,626
1. Calico Sunset (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Bet On The Jet (Jordan Patton), 3. Fox Valley Mai Tai (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Montana Big Sky (Issac Love)
Scratched — Captain’s Box
Time — :31 4/5, 1:02 3/5, 1:34, 2:02 4/5.
Race Three
ISA 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, Second Division
Total Purse: $1,626
1. Ms Granttwentyfive (Demarius Wakefield), 2. April Sunlight Ivq (Matthew Avenatti), 3. Obligate (Jordan Patton), 4. Smile Eraser (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Rk’s Farri Cheryl (Ohy’Jaivyian Carter)
Time — :31 4/5, 1:02 2/5, 1:33 2/5, 2:03 1/5.
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), Tj’s Pilot (Jacquavyian Carter)
Time — :32 4/5, 1:03 2/5, 1:35 4/5, 2:05 2/5.
Race Five
Non-winners $7,750 Lifetime Pace
Total Purse; $1,560
1. Hey Freaky (Tyler Stevens-Clemons), 2. Rockin Legal (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Rushville (Wyatt Avenatti)
Time — :33 1/5, 1:03 2/5, 1:35, 2:05.
Race Six
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,600
1. A Realfaith (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Hay Beth (Matt Avenatti), 3. Rock N Roll Playa (Jacquavyian Carter), 4. Dreamer Mooss (Cassidy Whitton)
Scratched — My Four O Nine.
Time — :32 2/5, 1:03 2/5, 1:35 1/5, 2:03 4/5.
Race Seven
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Battleshoe Jason (Clay Simpson), 2. Hidalgo Otis (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Bourbon Hannah (Freddie Patton Jr.)
Time — :34.0, 1:04 2/5,1:37 2/5, 2:07 1/5.
Race Eight
Open Colt/Gelding Pace
Total Purse: $1,600
1. 1. Managainstcrime (Ohy’Jaivyian Carter), 2. Stellar Bb (Jacquavyian Carter), 3. Rokonbigstar (Jordan Patton)
Time — :33, 1:05, 1:37 1/5, 2:05 4/5.
Race Nine
Free For All Trot
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Tankmetodennyland (Dennis Gardner), 2. Lous Mandalorian (Jill Brown), 3. Dooleyville Lou (Harold Finn Jr.), 4. Fox Valley Quest (Wyatt Avenatti)
Time — :31 4/5, 1:01 4/5, 1:33, 2:03 3/5.
WEDNESDAY RACES
Race One
Topline 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Capt. Treat (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Whiskey Lullaby (Clay Simpson), 3. Just Chasing Tails (Matthew Avenatti), 4. The Preacher Said (Ohy’Javyian Carter)
Race Two
Topline 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Marian G (Ohy’Javyian Carter), Shady Maple Credit (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Onemorenkickmeout (Clay Simpson), 4. Judge Dredd (Ohy’Javyian Carter)
Race Three
Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Fillys Revenge (no driver listed), 2. Bingbingbing (Matthew Avenatti), 3. Aint Wicked (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Vertical Speed (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. Heavy Pressure (Cordarius Stewart), 6. Great Seats (Wyatt Avenatti)
Race Four
Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Mariah Lou (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Zena Lou (Jill Brown), 3. Little Chipper (Jared Finn), 4. Deacon David (Issac Love), 5. Lousraptor (Jill Brown)
Race Five
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Charlotte Ann (Jerome Daniels), 2. Yf Treva (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Fortheladyzman (Jacquavyian Carter)
Race Six
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Belle Farr (Jerome Daniels), 2. Chrome Encore (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Lous Rubicon (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Don’t Catch Me (Jerome Daniels)
Race Seven
Open Nonwinners2 Pace Ae: ICF Nonwinners 3
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Valley Sage (Darla Martin Lohman), 2. Rock On Stevie (Darla Martin Lohman), 3. Major Statement (Aaron Marton)
Race Eight
Open Colt/Gelding Pace
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Hey Freaky (no driver listed), 2. Rockonbigstar (Tyler Stevens-Clemons), 3. Revelry (Cornelius Cavett), 4. Smooth N Creamy (Freddie Patton Jr.)
Race Nine
Open Colt/Gelding Trot
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Saint Stephens (Jared Finn), 2. Deja Frou (Cornelius Cavett), 3. Canthaveme (Jared Finn)