ALTAMONT — Forty-three harness races took place at the Effingham County Fair over the past week in Altamont.
The races started on July 27 and ran through Friday afternoon.
On July 27, “Fox Valley Tamara,” driven by Casey Leonard and trained by Tom Simmons, won the first division of the two-year-old filly pace of the Al and Mary Lea Jeffers Memorial Stakes. “Fox Valley Polaris,” driven by Archie Buford and trained by Jamaica Patton, won the second division of the two-year-old filly pace.
“No Flies On Me,” driven by Isaac Love and trained by Patton, won the first division of the two-year-old filly trot. Leonard took home his second win of the afternoon, driving “Shady Maple Chick” to a win in the second division of the two-year-old filly trot.
“Fox Valley Onassis,” which was driven by Wyatt Avenatti and trained by Kevin Miller, won the two-year-old colt pace.
Isaac Love drove “Lou’s Tru Lou” to a win in the first division of the two-year-old colt trot. “Here Comes Bob,” which Avenatti drove, won the second division of the two-year-old colt trot. The win for Avenatti put him in front of Leonard — who had 14 points after the seventh race — in the driving championship chase.
“Runway Show,” driven by Cassidy Whitton, won the open maiden pace.
Harold Finn Jr. drove “Hidalgo Otis” to a win in the open maiden trot. The win gave Finn 11 points in the driver standings after the ninth race.
“White Belly,” which Whitton drove, won the first open colt and gelding trot. Avenatti ended the day with another win, driving “Fox Valley Quest” to victory in the second open colt and gelding trot. Avenatti sat with 24 points after the first day of racing.
Monday’s races started with “Bettingonyou,” driven by Lohman, winning the three-year-old filly trot in 1 minute, 5.01 seconds.
Matthew Avenatti drove “Lou Beduino” to a win in the three-year-old colt trot in 1:04. He won again in the three-year-old filly pace with “Sleazylittledarlin” in 1:05.
Cornelius Cavett and “Life Turns” won the three-year-old colt pace in 1:01.1.
Matthew Avenatti picked up his third win with “R Nado” in the open maiden pace in 1:01.
“Durangos Adella” and Jill Brown won the open maiden trot in 1:14.3. Jordan Patton won the free-for-all pace with “Ideal Big Guy” in 1:03.
Wyatt Avenatti still held onto a firm lead in the driver of the week standings, with 34 points, after the second day.
He added to that number on the third day of racing with three more victories.
Wyatt won the two-year-old filly/colt trot with “Shady Maple Caddy” in 1:06.2, “Fox Valley Endzone” in the two-year-old colt pace in 1:03.2, and “A Realfaith” in the open maiden pace in 1:03.2.
Matthew Avenatti drove “Just Chasing Tails” to a win in the topline two-year-old filly/colt pace on Wednesday. The horse won in 1:01.1.
Wyatt Avenatti picked up another win in the topline two-year-old filly/colt trot with “Shady Maple Credit” in 1:05.1.
Freddie Patton won with “Fillys Revenge” in the topline three-year-old-and-up filly/colt pace in 57.1 seconds. Jared Finn won the topline three-year-old-and-up filly/colt trot with “Little Chipper” in 59.3 seconds.
Jordan Patton won the open maiden pace with “Yf Treva” in 1:10.4. Jerome Daniels won the open maiden trot with “Don’t Catch Me” in 1:14.2.
David Lohman won the open pace with “Valley Sage” in 1:05. Cavett won the first open colt/gelding pace with “Revelry” in 1:01.2. Jared Finn ended the day with a win in the second open colt/gelding trot with “Saint Stephens” in 1:03.1.
Thursday’s races opened with Dennis Bankston driving “Moon Face Boy” to a win in 1:09.1 in the open maiden trot. Darla Martin Lohman won the second race of the day with “Gj’s Moxie Star” in 1:11.2. Whitton won the third race with “Runway Show” in 1:03.2.
Qhy’Jaivyian Carter won the open maiden pace with “Its Maj Carlbombay” in 1:08. Wyatt Avenatti secured another victory, this in the maiden trot, with “Fox Valley Quest” in 1:03.1.
Whitton ended the day with a win in the filly and mare pace, after driving “Anns Marina Delray” in 1:04.1.
Harness racing concluded with eight races on Thursday.
Demarius Wakefield drove “Ms Granttwentyfive” to a win in the two-year-old pace in 1:03.
Qhy’Jaivyian Carter won the second race with “Carli Bay” in 1:05.4. The third race was won by Matthew Avenatti, who drove “R Nado” to a win in 57 seconds.
Matthew Avenatti picked up back-to-back victories, the second coming in the open maiden pace with “A Realfaith” in 1:01.2.
Michael Rogers drove “Frontier Duke” to a win in the open maiden trot in 1:10.1. Aaron Martin won the sixth race with “Major Statement” in 58.1 seconds.
Whitton won the open colt/gelding trot with “White Belly” in 59.2 seconds, and Walter Holmes III won the amateur driving race with “Adalecia” in 1:02.1.
Wyatt Avenatti ended the week with 64 points and his third successive harness racing championship.
Below are how the other drivers fared over the week:
1. Wyatt Avenatti – 64 pts.
2. Matthew Avenatti – 52 pts.
3. Cornelius Cavett – 34 pts.
4. Cassidy Whitton – 26 pts.
5. Qhy’Jaivyian Carter – 24 pts
T-6. Harold Finn Jr – 21 pts.
T-6. Jordan Patton – 21 pts.
8. Jacquavyian Carter – 17 pts.
9. Isaac Love – 16 pts.
T-10. Casey Leonard – 14 pts.
T-10. Darla Martin Lohman – 14 pts.
T-10. Freddie Patton Jr – 14 pts.
T-13. Jill Brown – 11 pts.
T-13. Aaron Martin – 11 pts.
T-13. Clay Simpson – 11 pts.
T-13. Demarius Wakefield – 11 pts.
17. Jared Finn – 10 pts.
T-18. Dennis Gardner – 8 pts.
T-18. David Lohman – 8 pts.
20. Jerome Daniels – 7 pts.
T-21. Walter Holmes III – 6 pts.
T-21. Kelcey Perymond – 6 pts.
T-23. Dennis Bankston – 5 pts.
T-23. Archie Buford – 5 pts.
T-23. Tyler Stevens-Clemons – 5 pts.
T-23. Michael Rogers – 5 pts.
T-27. Marcus Detweiler – 3 pts.
T-27. Ray Gash – 3 pts.
T-27. Jackson Loy – 3 pts.
T-27. Jacob Roedl – 3 pts.
T-31. C Alan Finn – 1 pt.
T-31. Frank Fisher – 1 pt.
T-31. Brendan Potts – 1 pt.