by Timothy M. Jones

Springfield, IL — Sunday’s (Sept. 27) Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Fall Review marked the last rites of the 2009 county fair racing season. Twelve races were carded for the afternoon program held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Jamaica Patton enjoyed four driving wins and a training triple, the latter equaled by Mike Brink’s driver/trainer trips to the winner’s circle. Marcus Miller scored twice for the Ervin Miller Stable.

Merry Moneymaker was one of Jamaica Patton’s four winning drives.

Patton’s assault on win photos began in the very first race of the day, contested for 2-year-old filly trotters. Merry Moneymaker finished a head better than Storm Queen (Bob Walker) in the 2:09.2 mile. Ms Tegan (Myrel Allen) was three lengths back in third. Merry Moneymaker, by High Falls-Merrymaker Lobell, is also owned by Patton along with Eddie Jarret, Jr.

Mike Brink’s triple bagger began with 2-year-old Illinois State Fair trotting champion Rock Hollywood. The Psychic Spirit ridgling led at every call and was 23 lengths in front at the wire in 1:58.4. Fox Valley Flare (Jerome Daniels) was second, and Super Sonic Flash (Rick Schrock) finished third. Rock Hollywood is owned by Kjell Anderson of Norway.

The Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old filly pace was split into two divisions and again it was Brink arriving first at the finish line. This time Lilly Filly afforded Brink the win with a 2:00 trip around the Springfield oval. Fox Valley Prism (Jamaica Patton) was 4-1/2 lengths in second. Powerful Favor (Rick Schrock) was third. Lilly Filly, a Park Place-Vocalist offspring is owned by the Catch 22 stable.

Fox Valley Ross and Jamaica Patton captured the ISOBA 2-year-old colt pace for owner Hosea Williams of Mississippi. The Patton trainee was a half-length better at the wire than McCheese (Tom Walker) in 2:04.1. M A Roy (Brian Cotton) finished third. The Incredible Finale sired winner now has earnings exceeding $5,000 over 13 starts.

Money Marker, reined by Marcus Miller, provided the Ervin Miller stable its first win of the day in the first division for 3-year-old filly trotters. The Armbro Tropicana-Fox Valley Paradox filly was 1-1/2 lengths the best at the wire, stopping the timer in 2:00. Steping High (Dirk Simpson) was second and Refocus (Jamaica Patton) finished third. Bred by KEM Standardbreds, Money Marker is owned by Mystical Marker Farms LLC, John Carver, and the Ervin Miller Stable Inc.

Timothy M. Jones photos

Smellthecolornine’s 1:55.1 clocking was the fastest of the day.

Polly-graph, in hand to the very talented but unheralded Mike Cox, turned a first over bid at the half into a 4-1/4 length victory in 1:56.2. The sophomore pacing filly, trained and owned by Gary Patterson, has earned nearly $19,000 in seven trips to the winner’s circle in 23 starts. Pargenta (Jamaica Patton) was second in this first division while Smashy Cerise (Nick Giberson) finished third.

Victor’s Story enabled driver/trainer Mike Brink with his trifecta for the day. The Valley Victor-Story Book Land gelding was 1-1/2 lengths in front at the wire over My Psychic Says (Jamaica Patton). Time of the mile was 2:03. Fox Valley Gabriel (David Gibbs) finished third. Victor’s Story has earnings of nearly $11,000 for owners Robert Moser, Bob Poppleton, and Mike Brink.

The second division of the 3-year-old colt pace saw the fastest win time of the blustery, but sunny afternoon. Marcus Miller and Smellthecolornine torched the Springfield oval to the tune of 1:55.1. Leaving from post five, the Cole Muffler-Ten Speed gelding led at every call and was on a hand driven cruise control for the final panel in :28.2. Big Daddy Woo Woo (Nick Prather) was second while Get It To Go (Tom Walker) finished third. Smellthecolornine has now earned more than $56,000 for co-owners Michael Anderson and Shim Racing LLC.