Published on July 30, 2025 2:48 pm
Last Updated on August 1, 2025 12:07 pm
BY MILLIE LANGE
The big harness race of the day at the Effingham County Fair was the No. 3 race, the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Pace.
Some fast horses came in as Fillys Revenge had won Monday at the Coles County Fair in Charleston in 1:57.3. But it was a slow start. A recall stopped the horses with broken equipment. The race got underway and it was off and pacing as the six-horse field went around the three quarter in 28.4 and Fillys Revenge held the lead at 57.1 at the half.
Fillys Revenge, driven by Freddie Patton Jr., led by five lengths and then Vertical Speed made a run at the leader. But Fillys Revenge held on for the victory in the fastest mile for a filly or mare ever at the Effingham County Fair in 1:55.3.
For Patton it was his first time driving Fillys Revenge and the trainer is John Fletcher.
It was also a fast track in the Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Trot.
Little Chipper took the early lead by two lengths at the quarter mile mark. Jared Finn opened up a five length lead behind Little Chipper but here came Lousraptor. Little Chipper held off the challenge and won by two lengths in the fast time of 2:00.2.
Just Chasing Tails claimed the opening race on the card, the Topline 2-Year-Old FiIly/Colt Pace. Just Chasing Tails and Whiskey Lullaby came out to take the early lead. But Just Chasing Trails moved into a three length lead at the three-quarter mile mark and finished with a 2 1/2 length victory in 2:02.4.
Matthew Avenatti was the winning driver and Phillip Cotton the trainer.
The second race, the Topline 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot was claimed by Shady Maple Credit.
Wyatt Avenatti drove Shady Maple Credit, who in three prior starts finished runnerup, to the win. Shady Maple Credit earned its first career victory in 2:08.2.
In the fifth race, the Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2 was captured by Jordan Patton behind Yf Treva. The duo opened up with a two length lead but Charlotte Ann moved into a half length lead at the quarter mile mark. But Yf Treva resumed the lead.
They were single file before Yf Treva and Fortheladyzman ended up in a photo finish for the victory. Yf Treva won by a nose in 2:13.1.
The Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2 went to Don’t Catch Me. Belle Farr took the early lead and Don’t Catch Me went offstride in the two-horse field. Don’t Catch Me trailed by 20 lengths but caught up at the halfway mark with Bella Farr and the two went side-by-side. They were on even terms at the final turn and it was door-to-door all the way until Don’t Catch Me claimed the win by a length in 2:24.0.
The seventh race was a family affair. Dave Lohman drove Valley Sage in his first drive in six years. His wife Darla Martin Lohman sat behind Rock On Stevie and Major Statement was driven by their nephew Aaron Martin.
All three horses were trained by Darla Lohman Martin. Valley Sage took a length lead with Major Statement sliding in behind. All three pacers were lined up. Rock On Stevie broke stride. Dave Lohman and Aaron Martin urged their pacers on but it was Valley Sage that won in 2:07.2. It was Dave Lohman’s fifth career victory.
In the eighth race, the Open Colt/Gelding Pace, Revelry went out first for driver Cornelius Cavett, the son of driver Freddie Patton Jr. behind Smooth N Creamy. Revelry kept that lead for the win in 2:01 3/5 as Cavett defeated his dad and has now won over $300,000.
There have been over 350 combined starts for Revelry and Smooth N Creamy. The horse is local as owners include Candy Herzog and Jackson Loy of Beecher City.
In the final race on the card, the Open Colt/Gelding Trot, Saint Stephens took the early lead by three lengths for driver Jared Finn of Newton.
The three trotters fanned out but Saint Stephens ended up with the victory in 2:04.2. With the win, Jared Finn was the lone driver and trainer on the day to pick up two victories.
So far the leading trainer of the week is David Avenatti while the leading driver is Wyatt Avenatti.
Effingham County Fair Race Results
Race One
Topline 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Just Chasing Tails (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Whiskey Lullaby (Clay Simpson), 3. Capt Treat (Jerome Daniels), 4. The Preacher Said (Qhy’Jaivyian Carter)
Time — :31 2/5, 1:01 1/5, 1:32 4/5, 2:02 4/5.
Race Two
Topline 2-Year-Old Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Shady Maple Credit (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Onemorenkickmeout (Clay Simpson), 3. Mariana G (Qhy’Jaivyian Carter)
Scratched — Judge Dredd
Time — :34, 1:05 1/5, 1:38 1/5, 2:08 2/5.
Race Three
Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Pace
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Fillys Revenge (Freddie Patton Jr.), 2. Great Seats (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Vertical Speed (Cornelius Cavett), 4. Heavy Pressure (Qhy’Jaivyian Carter), 5. Bingbingbing (Matthew Avenatti), 6. Aint Wicked (Jared Finn)
Time — :28 4/5, :57 1/5, 1:27.0, 1:55 3/5.
Race Four
Topline 3-Year-Old & Up Filly/Colt Trot
Total Purse: $2,500
1. Little Chipper (Jared Finn), 2. Lousraptor (Jill Brown), 3. Deacon David (Issac Love), 4. Zena Lou (Wyatt Avenatti).
DNF — Mariah Lou.
Time — :30 2/5, 1:59 3/5, 1:30 2/5, 2:00 2/5.
Race Five
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Yf Treva (Jordan Patton), 2. Fortheladyzman (Jacquavyian Carter), 3. Charlotte Ann (Jerome Daniels)
Time — :35.0, 1:10 4/5, 1:44, 2:13 1/5.
Race Six
Open Maiden Trot AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Don’t Catch Me (Jerome Daniels), 2. Belle Farr (Cornelius Cavett)
Scratched — Chrome Encore, Lous Rubicon.
Time — :37 2/5, 1:14 2/5, 1:51, 2:24
Race Seven
Open Nonwinners 2 Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 3
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Valley Sage (Dave Lohman), 2. Major Statement (Aaron Martin), 3. Rock On Stevie (Darla Martin Lohman)
Time — :32, 1:05, 1:36 3/5, 2:07 2/5.
Race Eight
Open Colt/Gelding Pace
Total Purse: $1,580
1. Revelry (Cornelius Cavett), 2. Smooth N Creamy (Freddie Patton Jr.)
Time — :30 4/5, 1:01 2/5, 1:32 1/5, 2:01 3/5.
Scratched — Hey Freaky, Rockonbigstar
Race Nine
Open Colt/Gelding Trot
Total Purse: $1,560
1. Saint Stephens (Jared Finn), 2. Canthaveme (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Deja Frou (Cornelius Cavett)
Scratched — Hey Freaky, Rockonbigstar
Time — :32 2/5, 1:03 1/5, 1:34 3/5, 2:04 2/5.