Published on August 4, 2026 8:03 am
Last Updated on August 4, 2026 8:05 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
ALTAMONT — It was a fast day for harness horses at the Effingham County Fair Monday.
After suffering a rained out card on Sunday, the field had 15 races scheduled and folks attending saw history being made.
In the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, First Division, the third race on the card was exciting from the get-go. With six horses in the field, Shady Maple Delite took the win by holding off Shady Maple Darla down the stretch and finishing with a record-setting time of 2:05 4/5. That’s a state record and the fastest two-year-old filly trot in this series.
Driven by Wyatt Avenatti, Shady Maple Delite is now three for three in victories and had times of :34 1/5, 1:04 4/5, 1:37 1/5 and finished at 2:05 4/5.
The second big run of the day came in the 2-Year-Old Colt Pace, First Division. Fox Valley Agate, driven by Jared Finn, had a time of 1:58 1/5, the fastest mile ever by a two-year-old in the 82-year history. Fox Valley Agate is partially owned by Altamont’s Bart Seales.
In the two-year-old trot, first division, Goomzilla came into the race going five-for-five in wins and finished with the fastest two-year-old trot in Effingham County Fair history with a time of 2:01 3/5. The 18-year-old record was 2:03 1/5. Goomzilla was driven by JD Finn.
Wyatt Avenatti moved ahead in the driver’s standings with six victories. He guided Fox Valley Dream to a win in the 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division in 2:03 1/5. He then took the next race, the second division of the 2-Year-Old Filly Pace with Summer Gram in 2:01 4/5. The third win came in the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, First Division behind Shady Maple Delite. The pair set a new record with the fastest 2-Year-Old filly trot at 2:05 4/5.
He won behind Goshen Trail Steve in the 2-Year-Old Colt Pace, Second Division in 1:59 2/5. It was Goshen Trail Steve’s third win in three starts. Avenatti then won behind Fox Valley Mai Tai in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace and finished out the day with a victory with Fox Valley Onassis in the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace.
Harold Finn Jr. nabbed his 99th career victory as a driver behind Dreamer Mooss in the Open Maiden Pace. The pair won in 2:03. Finn will be heading for his 100th victory in his next race at the Effingham County Fair.
Another story at the races was Jamaica Patton. Patton drove Samantha Lou to a victory in the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot. The duo have now won three consecutive races. Patton raced the dam of this filly to her first win.
Races continue today beginning at noon.
Effingham County Fair
Sunday’s Races
Race One
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, First Division
1. Fox Valley Dream (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Say It Nicely (Jordan Patton), 3. Dee Should Do (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Dee’s Lucky Star (Jamaica Patton), 5. Angie Did It (Issac Love)
Time — :31 2/5, 1:01 4/5, 1:33 1/5, 2:03 1/5.
Race Two
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Pace, Second Division
1. Summer Gram (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Shopping Party (Charles Arthur), 3. Fifty Five And Out (Jordan Patton), 4. Roses And Perls (Issac Love), 5. Miss Kattikat (Freddie Patton Jr.)
Time — :30 1/5, :59 4/5, 1:31 1/5, 2:01 4/5.
Race Three
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Trot, First Division
1. Shady Maple Delite (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Lous Lovenote (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. G Lucky Gem (Charles Arthur), 4. Fox Valley Jubilee (Wyatt Avenatti), 5. The Final Balance (Freddie Patton Jr.), 6. Maple Grove Sophie (Jamaica Patton)
Time — :34 1/5, 1:04 4/5, 1:37 1/5, 2:05 4/5.
Race Four
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Filly Trot, Second Division
1. Samantha Lou ( (Jamaica Patton), 2. Shady Maple Darla (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Lous Bitcoin (Jordan Patton), 4. Zionsmilescreation (Freddie Patton Jr.), 5. Kays The Boss (J D Finn), 6. Zaza (Charles Arthur), 7. Starless Night (Juan Franco)
Time — :34 1/5, 1:06, 1:37 3/5, 2:07 1/5.
Race Five
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Pace, First Division
1. Fox Valley Agate (Jared Finn), 2. Ridemlikeustolem (Wyatt Avenatti), 3. Cowboy Carter (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Nelson Power (Jared Finn), 5. Brandt Abrahm (Marcus Detweiler)
Time — :29 1/5, :57 4/5, 1:28 3/5, 1:58 1.
Race Six
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Pace, Second Division
1. Goshen Trail Steve (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. Trevorsaurus Rex (Jordan Patton), 3. Fox Valley Kravitz (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Dazzle Me Now (JD Finn), 5. Fox Valley Dazzle (Charles Arthur)
Time — :29 4/5, :58 3/5, 1:29 3/5, 1:59 2/5.
Race Seven
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Trot, First Division
1. Goomzilla (JD Finn), 2. Better Call Bob (Jordan Patton), 3. Fox Valley Blast (Wyatt Avenatti)
Scratched — Argo’s Envy.
Time — :31 2/5, 1:00 2/5, 1:31 3/5, 2:01 3/5.
Race Eight
Al & Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes
2-Year-Old Colt Trot, Second Division
1. Voomster (JD Finn), 2. Gobigorgochrome (Jordan Patton), 3. Shady Maple Dandy (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Elperfect Credit (Marcus Detweiler)
Time — :36 1/5, 1:06 1/5, 1:37 4/5, 2:08 1/5.
Monday’s Races
Race One
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
1. Lous Madison (Michael Rogers), 2. Gj’s Moxie Star (Aaron Martin), 3. Shady Maple Caddy (Wyatt Avenatti), 4. Aproaching Annaway (Jacob Roedl)
Time — :32 1/5, 1:03 1/5, 1:34 3/5, 2:04 3/5.
Race Two
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Trot
1. Go Go Go Chrome (Jamaica Patton), 2. Dolleyvillerephill (Harold Finn Jr.), 3. Rk’s Dictator (JD Finn), 4. Fox Valley Pride (Darla Martin Lohman)
Time — :31 1/5, 1:00, 1:31 1/5, 2:01 1/5.
Race Three
ISA 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
1. Fox Valley Mai Tai (David Avenatti), 2. Calico Sunset (Mike Rogers), 3. Erm Rose (Matthew Avenatti), 4. Restless Angel (Issac Love), 5. Cupid’s Dragon (Larry Plank), 6. Fox Valley Barbie (Jared Finn)
Time — :31, 1:01 1/5, 1:32 1/5, 2:01 1/5.
Race Four
ISA 3-Year-Old Colt Pace
1. Fox Valley Onassis (Wyatt Avenatti), 2. R Buddy Boy (Mike Cox), 3. Gothic Thunder (Larry Plank), 4. Jazz Party (Jamaica Patton)
Time — :31 4/5, 1:01 2/5, 1:31 2/5, 1:59 2/5.
Race Five
Maiden Pace AE: Nonwinners $2,000 in 2026
1. R Nado (Matthew Avenatti), 2. Ashlees Silver Guy (Tyler Stevens-Clemons), 3. Hypeyourbesttieup (Jamaica Patton), 4. Reserved Parking (Michael Rogers), 5. Valley Sage (Aaron Martin), 6. Captain Warrior (Brendan Potts), 7. Xena’s Foxie (Mike Cox)
Time — :30 1/5, 1:00 1/5, 1:31 2/5, 2:00 2/5.
Race Six
Open Maiden Pace AE: ICF Nonwinners 2
1. Dreamer Mooss (Harold Finn Jr.), 2. Tulip At The Beach (Jordan Patton), 3. Fox Valley Angelic (Aaron Martin)
Scratched — Loyz Outlaw Woman.
Time — :32, 1:01 4/5, 1:32 4/5, 2:03.
Race Seven
Open Colt/Geldings Pace
1. Scrappy Comingup (Matt Avenatti), 2. Revelry (Tyler Sevens-Clemons), 3. White Belly (Cassidy Whitton), 4. First Colt (Wyatt Avenatti)
Time — :31, 1:02 1/5, 1:33 3/5, 2:02.