by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Day three of racing at the Illinois State Fair featured Grand Circuit events in the Review Stakes, plus Illinois Colt Stakes contests for older mare trotters and older horse and gelding pacers.

Onhishonor Hanover was a 1:54 winner in the Little Pat on Monday.

Three entrants went postward in the Little Pat on Monday (August 16), a Review Stakes race for 2-year-old colt pacers with a purse of $20,000.

Ideal Joe (Marcus Miller) sped into the first turn and the lead, only to make a nasty and costly break. Onhishonor Hanover (Todd Warren) inherited that lead and never looked back. A :27 second last quarter gave the Cam’s Card Shark-Onherhonor Hanover colt a new lifetime mark of 1:54. Ideal Joe recovered from the early miscue to finish second, while Gregorian Flaw (Mike Cox) was third.

Owned by Sawgrass Farms and trained by Perry Smith, the winner sports two wins in three starts and earnings of $13,900.

In the Review Stakes 3-year-old filly trot, Riley Lynn (Brandon Simpson) led a four-horse field through every call, but began drifting from the rail in mid-stretch allowing Vitamin M (Trent Stohler) enough of a seam to sneak through for the 2:01.3 win. Riley Lynn was three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while Pure Platinum (Mike Oosting) finished third.

Vitamin M was a 2:01.3 winner for Trent Stohler.

“I was a little nervous over on the backside,” said the winning driver/trainer. “The whole field can sprint; anybody can sprint these days, going those fractions. I thought if I went to the front, they’d do the same to me. I thought I’d take a shot at the rail. Horses usually drift when they get going that speed. I thought I could maybe get through there.”

The Muscles Yankee-Armbro Vitality filly bred by Perretti Farms of New Jersey has now won two of three 2010 starts and earned $11,500.

The Review Stakes 2-year-old filly pace and Alexander Memorial 3-year-old colt trot races were contested as non-wagering affairs.

Dave Magee piloted Kayay Digidigy to a 1:56.4 win in the filly pace for trainer Tom Simmons. The Panspacificflight-Quiet Angel filly’s win was her maiden score.

When Ilikeyoualatte was a late judges scratch, the Alexander Memorial 3-year-old colt trot became a walkover for pilot Kyle Wilfong behind Premier Hanover. The SJ’s Caviar-Puffed-Up gelding cruised the Springfield oval in 2:06.1 for trainer Brett Wilfong.

A :26.1 final quarter by NJ’s Fast Fletch (Dave Magee) earned the Ft Apache Hanover gelding a Colt Stakes title in the older horse and gelding pace. Crossing the wire in 1:51.1, the Craig Smith trained and Pino Gallo owned 7-year-old has won two of his last three starts.

“He’s traditionally got a good, late burst of speed,” said Magee. “It was a tight enough bunch that I thought if I could be within a length he could get there.”

Jamaica Patton guided Southern Victoriak to a 1:56.4, gate-to-wire win in the colt stakes final for older trotting mares. The 10-year-old Snafu mare’s title was her first win in four 2010 starts for trainer Ron Lelo and owner Robert Stetler.

Timothy M. Jones photos

Leo Burns signs a program for a young racing fan.

Monday was Senior Citizens day at the fair and in winner’s circle ceremonies 102-year-old Glenn Brown and 95-year-old Leo Burns were honored.

Mr. Brown, a Standardbred owner since 1970 and trainer of approximately 40 horses over the last four decades, and his wife wintered in Florida later in life, but then went to work for trainer Don Busse at Pompano Park. Anything but retired Brown accompanied Busse’s stable back to Illinois and competed on the county fair circuit.

Quoted in the Illinois State Fair program Brown stated, “What started as a hobby became a lifestyle and I am forever thankful for it.”

Leo Burns climbed off the bike from a fifth place finish behind Winsome Wyoming in the State Fair’s final for older trotting mares to be honored in a winner’s circle ceremony. Recently featured in the New York Times, Mr. Burns then autographed a photo of he and his prized mare, and programs of fans and well-wishers.