Springfield, IL — The opening weekend of the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes belonged to the father-son team of Erv and Marcus Miller, who once again showed their Springfield dominance. Erv sent out six winners during Friday’s (August 8) eliminations, all driven by Marcus, who closed the day with an impressive eight wins.
The afternoon began with the 2-year-old trotting fillies, split into two eliminations. Fox Valley Gimlet (Southwind Chrome-Bambino Speed) opened the stakes action in style, delivering a career-best 1:55 mile for trainer Erv Miller and driver Marcus Miller. Pony Chrome (Casey Leonard), Unhynged Cadeau (Wyatt Avenatti), and Chromes Heather (Kyle Husted) rounded out the qualifiers from the first division.
The second division went to Shady Maple Chick (Southwind Chrome-Glimpse), trained by Tom Simmons and driven by Leonard, who scored in 1:55.3. Fox Valley Cougar (Miller), Mysticalmagical (Husted), and Watch Me Zoom (Cordarius Stewart) joined her in advancing. The final spot in next Thursday’s $35,000 championship will go to either Shady Maple Caddy or No Flies On Me following the draw.
Three divisions were contested for the 2-year-old pacing fillies, with the top three from each advancing to the final. Owner Mark Winship enjoyed a big afternoon, with two of his fillies taking their respective splits. Fox Valley Aruba (Somestarsomewhere-Native Hotspur) gave Erv Miller another win in the first division, finishing ahead of Evening Slippers (Travis Seekman) and Calico Sunset (Avenatti). In the second, Fox Valley Fastrak (Somestarsomewhere-Subway Hanover) carried the Winship colors to victory over Variant (Jordan Patton) and Talkflirtytome (Husted). The third went to Fox Valley Polaris (Somestarsomewhere-Epoma), also for Winship, defeating Fox Valley Tamara (Leonard) and Dnt Touche Mymooss (Juan Franco).
The 2-year-old trotting colts needed two divisions, with familiar names back in the winner’s circle. Fox Valley Snapper (Southwind Chrome-Fish Is Fish) took the first split for Erv Miller, joined in the final by Go Go Go Chrome (Archie Buford), Fox Valley Sahbra (Leonard), and Here Comes Bob (Avanatti). Zambony earned the draw spot. The second division went to Listentome Nelson (Can’t Afford It-I’lldoitmyself) for Tom Simmons, with Zoomster (Seekman), Especial (Miller), and Twin Cedars Riley (Husted) also advancing, and Lous Transportor (Avanatti) securing the draw position.
Two divisions of the 2-year-old pacing colts produced more impressive winners. In A Minute (Somestarsomewhere-Talkative) delivered one of the fastest performances of the afternoon, stopping the clock in a blistering 1:51.2 for Marcus Miller. Sleazy Captain (Kyle Husted) finished a strong second, followed by Illinigameday (Avanatti) and Dandy’s Beach (Leonard). Drill Baby Drill (Marcus Detweiller) took the draw berth. The second division went to Fox Valley Onassis (Somestarsomewhere-Ideal Princess), who continued his winning streak in 1:53.1 over Incredible Stevie (Brandon Bates), Mighty Engine (Seekman), and Laser Focused (Leonard), with Nics Mj (Archie Buford) taking the draw spot.
The 3-year-old trotting fillies also raced in two divisions. What A Legacy (Bates) took the first over Lous Avalon (Avanatti), Almost Home (Curt Grummel), and Lou Of I (Franco), while High Class Heidi (Stewart) drew into the final. The second went to Kay’s In Charge (Miller), followed by Lous My Number (Leonard), Gypsy Rose Lou (Franco), and Lous Night Vision (Seekman), with Toughestofthetough (Patton) earning the draw berth.
In the 3-year-old trotting colt eliminations, Louise’s Legacy (Miller) captured the first division over Sunburnt Silverado (Grummel), Frontier Macho (Leonard), and Moon Face Baby (Stewart), with Lous Beduino (Matthew Avenatti) taking the draw spot. Mustang Danny (Seekman) took the second over Lous Magnum (Leonard), Hopes De Vie (Husted), and DJs Midnight (Stewart), while Shady Maple Becker (Wyatt Avenatti) secured the draw berth.
Thursday also featured a special milestone for driver Jamaica Patton, who recorded his 1,000th driving victory in front of the enthusiastic Springfield crowd with One Trip Chip.