Springfield, IL — When Travis Seekman guided last season’s Illinois Conceived and Foaled (ICF) freshman male trotting champion Groomster to a notable victory over a strong field of Illinois-breds in Friday’s (June 16) second race at Springfield, it was an omen that good things were likely going to happen.

And they did … five races later.

The Nicole Wilfong-trained pacer Downbytheocean blew away his foes in the seventh race to give Seekman his 1,000th career driving victory, a magical milestone for any reinsman.

Travis Seekman drove his 1,000th career winner Friday at Springfield. Four Footed Fotos.

The 33-year-old Seekman began his driving career some 17 years ago as a 16-year-old on the Michigan fair circuit. His father Joe is a Michigan Hall of Fame trainer closing in on 1,500 winners.

Travis’ 999th dash winner came with Goomster, who reasserted himself as the trotter to beat in this season’s 3-year-old state-bred division, putting away a formidable field consisting of three other 2022 Illinois champions — Lousdobb, Marvelous Mystery and Annas Lucky Star — along with Kadabra runner-up Nico Man.

Groomster’s owner and trainer, Dennis Garner, turned over the lines on his Cassis trotter to Seekman on Friday, and the Michigan native made the most of his first opportunity to guide the youngster, winning in 1:55. Goomster trotted a quick :27.3 first panel to have command, however Seekman was able to give the gelding a pair of soft :29.4 middle quarters. A :27.4 last quarter was enough to hold off the closing Lousdobb (Casey Leonard) by almost a length.

Later in the program, Travis began his long climb to the 2,000-win level, bringing home the freshman Deenbo to a six-length romp in 2:01 for the Gardner stable.

“He” Just Keeps Going: The “He” in this instance is three-time Illinois Harness Horse of the Year Fox Valley Gemini. The illustrious Terry Leonard-trained 8-year-old, aptly handled by regular driver Casey Leonard, improved to four-for-four on this season with a 1:51.1 mile, thus far the fastest mile at the current Springfield meeting.

With a remarkable 57 lifetime victories in 110 starts, “Gemini” has been terrific just about anywhere he has raced, and the Illinois State Fair is no exception. In 14 trips to the gate at Springfield, the Jim Ballinger-owned gelding has stopped at its winner’s circle 11 times, to go with two second-place finishes and a fourth-place finish.

Second Day Notes: Casey Leonard led all drivers with four winners. Seekman had three and Jamaica Patton two, including the Illinois champion mare Skeet Machine’s 32nd lifetime triumph. … Three of Leonard’s winners came behind youngsters from the Tom Simmons stable: 3-year-old Fox Valley Presley, and 2-year-olds JR’S Strike Three (2:00.3) and Fox Valley Ramiro (1:56.2), the younger brother of Simmons’ Fox Valley Cayman. Fox Valley Ramiro romped by six seven lengths, closing in :27. … Fox Valley Presley’s successful 1:55 mile from the eight-hole, where he was used hard (:28) to get to the top, likely insured the $35,000 yearling buy a start in the upcoming Cardinal Pace. … Downbytheocean’s :26.2 last panel was the fastest final quarter on the card.

First Day Notes: When Hosea Williams’ 4-year-old trotting mare Eris (Juan Franco) captured Thursday’s second race, it was her first victory after going winless in her initial 40 career starts. … Carroll and Diane Hayes, of Williamsville, Ill., started two distaffers on the card, and both made winner’s circle visits: The 3-year-old filly Red Clover (Travis Seekman) rallied for her first season win in 1:55.2. One race later, their game 6-year-old mare Reign And Shine, handled by Jamaica Patton, got her nose in front at the wire over Latin Lover in a conditioned trot with a 1:56.1 mile. … Matt Krueger had a driving triple on the Thursday’s 13-race program while Travis Seekman, Juan Franco, Cordarius Stewart and Phil Knox each had two dash winners.