Springfield, IL — A new driver brought about an old result as Illinois champion Gorgeous Big Guy coasted to his 11th consecutive victory Saturday (July 6) at Springfield.

Travis Seekman got the catch drive on the 3-year-old homebred and comfortably guided the Erv Miller sophomore to a convincing 1-3/4 length victory while under a firm hold in the 1:53.4 mile to extend the Ashlee’s Big Guy progeny’s winning streak.

A slow :29.1 first quarter brought about a reserved winning time for the mile. The second quarter saw Gorgeous Big Guy and his ICF rival Doctor Cruise (Kyle Husted) jockey for early position through a :27.2 panel. Once Seekman got the Miller trainee on top, the issue wasn’t in doubt. Another slow third quarter (:29.2) sealed the outcome as the winner came home in :27.4 and had plenty left if needed. Fox Valley Julian (Casey Leonard) was a fast closing second in his best race of the early season, making up six lengths in the last half-mile. Fox Valley Kodiak (Gary Rath) was third best.

Seekman took over the lines on Gorgeous Big Guy after the pacer’s regular drivers Cordarius Stewart and Atlee Bender both were sidelined after injuries in a spill earlier in the week at Oak Grove racetrack.

The modest $6,600 purse nudged Gorgeous Big Guy’s lifetime earnings to just under $180,000 for owners Doug Overhiser and Mark Winship.

One race later former ICF champion Fox Valley Exploit (Kyle Husted) held off a fast-closing Scorecard Dandy (Juan Franco) to capture the ICF older pacing mare contest with a 1:51.1 clocking for trainer Amy Husted. It was career victory No. 38 for the 7-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster who has banked $489,518 in her illustrious career.

The 3-year-old state-bred pacing filly showdown saw Kyle Husted give Fox Valley Sadie a winning second over journey to avenge her loss to Amy Mooss (Matt Avenatti) in their recent Violet confrontation.

Husted was able to flush-out Amy Mooss from the two-hole on the backside and follow the Dane May trainee, getting past in the final strides of the 1:54 mile. It was the winner’s third triumph in five season’s starts for owners Husted Racing, John Schwarz Jr. and David Brigham.

Last year’s Illinois bred freshman trotting champion Lous Private Eye had no trouble staying unbeaten in 2024, easily prevailing in the ICF 3-year-old colt and gelding event in 1:57.4, his fourth consecutive first place finish. Driven by Casey Leonard for trainer Steve Searle, the Flacco Family Farms homebred pulled away in the lane from runner-up Lous Mandalorian (Juan Franco). Lous Gambler (Jordan Patton) took third. All three finishers are sons of Lou’s Legacy.

Lous Private Eye is now 8-for-14 in lifetime starts and increased his career earnings to $122,243.

Friday’s card was rained out and moved to Saturday with a 10 a.m. first post. The 16-race program ended almost four hours later. It was followed by another card of 15 races. The lengthy 31 combined Saturday race program lasted almost eight hours in what could be called “Illinois’ Longest Day” for horsemen, employees, and harness racing spectators alike.

Casey Leonard drove more than a third of the winning horses with 11 first place finishes. Kyle Husted steered six of his drives to victory, while Juan Franco had a big day with five, and Wyatt Avenatti greeted the track photographer on four occasions.