by Fred Huff

Du Quoin, IL — An estimated 2,000 fans on an uncomfortably hot night fanned their way through a 10-event harness racing card at the Du Quoin State Fair on Tuesday, August 28, as six winners lowered their career records by a meaningful overall total of 30 seconds.

In addition, two new stake marks were established, the first in the Pronto Don for 3-year-old colts and geldings and the second in the AA County Fair Challenge for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

My Birthday was the leader among new record-setters as the 2-year-old filly reduced her career best fron 2:06.1 to 1:58.2, a seven and four-fifths improvement.

Another filly, M A Jackie, was just a shade behind as she posted a 1:55 winning time, seven and one-fifth seconds faster than her previous best. M A Jackie picked up her third win of the season in the second race as Brandon Simpson guided her to the 1:55 mile, finishing ahead of stablemate Devika and Fox Valley Karisma.

The new stake mark was established by Oxford Brilliance as he won the second division of the Pronto Don in 1:54.3. The previous mark was 1:55.2 held by Million Dollar Bye and set in 1999.

There was little doubt, actually none, about Thunderhawk’s win in the first race of the evening. Driven by the veteran Andy Miller, the 3-year-old trotter took the lead just before the field reached the half-mile marker in :59 and was never seriously challenged the remainder of the way, winning in 1:56.3. It was Miller’s fourth driving win in just 11 races at this year’s Fair and Thunderhawk’s second win in six outings this season.

Brandon Simpson returned to Victory Lane in the third race after winning with Celebrity Yank in 1:58.1 with a rush down the stretch. Just Amos, driven by SIU grad Tom Tetrick, and owned by William and Brenda Langdon of Tamms, was second.

Jamaica Patton got his first driving win of the Du Quoin meeting in the fourth race when he guided Band Star to the win in 1:58.2. Patton earlier had a pair of thirds after having finished in the money twice on Monday night.

Brenda Place came within one-fifth of a second of matching her career best in the fifth race, winning in 1:53.4 over Windy City Paige in a photo finish.

Lowering career bests by meaningful marks suddenly became stylish as OG’s Bowchitski P sliced six and four-fifth seconds off his best in the seventh race. With Patton getting his second win of the evening in the sulky, OG’s Bowchitski P claimed the win in 1:53.1, just ahead of Pirate Image and Andy Miller.

Owned by basketball great Sam Bowie of Lexington, Ky., Before He Cheats took the eighth race in 1:57.1, winning by a length over Vapor Maker.

The other new stake record came in the final race of the evening. Big John C bettered the 1:54.1 with a 1:52.4 clocking.

Racing will resume on Thursday (August 30) with a 12:00 noon (CDT) start and will continue Friday and Saturday when the World Trotting Derby will climax the 2007 Grand Circuit card at Du Quoin.