by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Late rushes from horses off the pace resulted in photo finish wins in respective trot and pace divisions of Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes championships on Wednesday, August 15. Gotta Go Moe’s cavalry charge was enough to nab the 3-year-old colt pace title in 1:49.3, and Thundercrack’s strong brush in the lane stopped the timer in 1:56, earning him the trotting title.

Gotta Go Moe, a full brother to world champion Incredible Tillie, raced seventh up the backstretch for Brent Holland as All Is Saidanddone (Andy Miller) and One Park Place (Dave Magee) were duking it out on the front end through hot fractions of :26.2 and :53.4.

Approaching the half, One Park Place had sprinted out to a three length lead before Miller decided he’d had enough and closed the gap upon reaching that station. Brother Vinny (Mike Oosting) arrived on the scene in a first over bid on the final turn that also pulled Fox Valley Curahee (Ryan Anderson) racing second over into the tussle.

Gotta Go Moe charged down the stretch to win his State Fair championship in 1:49.3.

With four pacers on the rail and five in the outer flow, Gotta Go Moe and Holland were third over as the field reached three-quarters in 1:21.4. Sprinting four deep off the final turn, Gotta Go Moe charged down the middle of the track in concert with a wall of four other pacers. Fox Valley Curahee (Ryan Anderson) gained a short lead in mid-stretch, but drifted enough towards the middle of the track to allow All Is Saidanddone to squeeze between the latter and Brother Vinny, as One Park Place began to fade on the rail.

Less than a sixteenth from the wire the race was still up for grabs as All Is Saidanddone edged past Fox Valley Curahee, and Gotta Go Moe maintained his momentum on the outside. All Is Saidanddone and Gotta Go Moe hit the wire as a tandem, with the resulting photo showing the latter a whisker in front.

“Right on time,” said an elated Brent Holland after the winner’s circle ceremony. “We’ve stuck to our game plan with this horse from day one. Erv instructed me to keep him covered up, keep him covered up; keep him finishing. A day like today, it pays off. I was four deep coming off the turn. (1):49 and 3 is a good mile for this horse; he paced hard through the wire.”

Owner Dick Kulle of Tanah Merah Farms thought the result was, “Fantastic!”

“We’re very lucky to have this horse, and very lucky to have him right — at the right time. Erv has been setting him up for here and Super Night. Brent did a super job. It was a big effort and he couldn’t have driven him any better.”

Bred by Jodi Peacock of Cantrall, Illinois, and trained by Erv Miller, the Incredible Finale gelding has now reached the winner’s circle in four of eight starts. This game 1:49.3 effort erased nearly four seconds from his lifetime mark.

Thundercrack was favored in his elimination on Saturday afternoon, but spotting the field some 13 lengths on the front end, his huge rally came up two lengths short behind Before He Cheats and Vapor Maker. That result would not be the same on this day.

Timothy M. Jones photos

Sam Widger piloted Thundercrack (#6) to a 1:56 score.

Vapor Maker (Homer Hochstetler), Just Amos (Mike Brink), and Oxford Brilliance (Craig Banks) were locking horns on the front end, passing the halftime mark in :57.1. Meanwhile a gapped and strung out field, that included the eventual winner racing fifth on the guardrail, were grinding along trying to make up lost ground.

Oxford Brilliance became steppy, broke stride, and dropped from his first over bid midway on the final turn. That miscue resulted in Vapor Maker alone on the front end with Just Amos on his back. Fox Valley Impulse (Dale Hiteman) trotted into Oxford Brilliance’s vacated first over position, Ryan Anderson was three deep with Spunky Vic, and Thundercrack thundered just off Anderson’s right wheel.

Like a speeding bullet, Thundercrack shot past Spunky Vic in mid-stretch only to be challenged nearing the wire by Before He Cheats (Jason Dillander) on the outside. The latter’s bid fell three parts of a length short as Thundercrack hit the wire in 1:56.

“This horse is still learning,” said Widger. “He’s going to be a very nice race horse. He was just too far back in his elimination. Roger (trainer Roger Welch) told me to race him conservatively; get him in the final. I thought we had a real good shot turning for home today. He trotted strong all the way through the wire.”

The Valley Victor colt from the Seafood Special mare, Never Ms Still, takes home the Colt Stakes trophy for the partnership of the G&B Stable, James Fuhse, and Vincent Nardiello. He’s won two of his last four starts, and with this win, has bankrolled nearly $55,000.