by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Six Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes championships, out of a 13 race card, were scheduled for Thursday afternoon (August 16) at Springfield. Mother Nature interceded with a torrential downpour that included lightning, allowing only two finals to reach the starting gate. The remaining four have been moved to Balmoral Park, on Sunday evening (August 19). Post time is 6 p.m. (CDT). Also, there will be no redraw; post positions already assigned will remain the same.

Seven Illinois Department of Agriculture races were completed before the main attraction began in race eight, the championship for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Maevy Gravy was a winner in a personal best time of 1:55.

Marcus Miller floated division leader and elimination winner Maevy Gravy from post one as the starting gate wings folded to maintain position into the first turn. Fox Valley Velvet (Dave Magee) sprinted from post 10 to drop on the rail and head Miller’s horse. Powerful Star (Dale Hiteman) followed Magee’s plan from post eight to race second, but was parked through a :28.3 first quarter.

Third on the rail at the quarter, but first to reach the half in :58, Maevy Gravy would not see anyone’s taillights again. The field bunched racing to the three-quarters, three in, three out, but Maevy Gravy was still on the point by a head over a parked B Fly McQueen (Robert Smolin).

Trotting like a runaway freight train, Maevy Gravy appeared to hit another gear hitting the top of the stretch. The short lead at three- quarters had expanded to 1-1/2 lengths almost immediately upon reaching that point. One last challenge remained as Rick Schrock sent Rubys And Pearls on a three-wide mission off the three-quarter station, rapidly chewing up racetrack in hot pursuit of the leader.

Rubys And Pearls’ gallant charge fell short however as Maevy Gravy hit the wire in a new lifetime mark of 1:55. Powerful Star was three lengths behind in finishing third.

The Northern Kid-Grace Elizabeth female is trained by Erv Miller for the ownership of the Obermeier & Quaid Stables LLC of Evergreen Park, Ill. Maevy Gravy has now earned, including the bulk of the $40,000 Colt Stakes purse, more than $76,000 in 13 starts.

Timothy M. Jones photos

John De Long piloted Party Hangover to a 1:51.3 triumph.

The Colt Stakes 3-year-old filly pace was next on the agenda. Party Hangover and driver John De Long gave just that — a hangover — to the nine other entrants with a gate-to-wire win in 1:51.3.

Not to say it wasn’t close.

Party Hangover was challenged by Sleazy Does It (Marcus Miller) for nearly three-quarters of the mile. The duo raced eyeball to eyeball through that station, reached in 1:23.4, until the latter began to tire and drop the bit.

Party Hangover’s two length lead at the top of the stretch remained intact upon reaching the wire and she earnined the Colt Stakes championship. Fox Valley Swift (Ryan Anderson) was second. Hostess Lisa (Todd Warren) finished third.

The winning Party At Artsplace-Maura Hanover mare is trained by Jesse De Long for owners Horsemans Financial Agency and Premier Racing Stable LLC. She has now won four times in 14 starts, finishing second and third on three separate occasions, with sophomore earnings of more than $65,000.