by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Six Colt Stakes titles were up for grabs in finals on Thursday (August 19) at the Illinois State Fair, each contested for a purse of $35,000.

Powerful Charger overcame a stewards inquiry to win on Thursday.

Powerful Charger equaled his season’s mark of 1:55.4 in the final for 2-year-old colt trotters, but not without a struggle, both on and off the racetrack.

Todd Warren floated the Pam Coleman trainee from post five to seventh on the rail and 9-1/2 lengths from early leader Hammerhead (Marcus Miller) to the :27 first quarter station. The scuffle then broke out between the half and three-quarter calls with Powerful Charger by then on the point at the former, but in third, and briefly breaking stride at the latter — the cause of a post race stewards inquiry. If not for the miscue, the season’s mark might have been lowered several ticks.

The Powerful Emotion gelding blew the rest of the field away in the stretch. His three length lead entering the stretch widened to a margin of nearly nine lengths at the wire. Sh’s Snap Shot (Freddie Patton, Jr.) was second, while Powerful Position (Brian Carpenter), another Coleman trainee, finished third.

“This was a tough race,” described Coleman. “It wasn’t by any means a given. I thought he raced spectacular today. We can’t see real well from the paddock, but he was parked all the way to the quarter, then Todd pulled him and he exploded from there.”

Coleman co-owns with Jerry Graham and Mystical Marker Farms LLC. Powerful Charger remains atop the season’s leader board with his mark of 1:55.4 for a gelding over a mile track. He’s won five of his last six starts with 2010 earnings of $52,565.

Pardon remained unbeaten in seven lifetime starts with a 1:52.3 win.

There’s a rumor floating around the Springfield oval that the winner’s circle will be renamed the Simpson Family Reunion. Five generations of the Simpson clan had their win photo taken twice when Dirk Simpson trainees captured Colt Stakes titles.

Pardon, a 2-year-old Richess Hanover-Rose Dawson pacing filly remained undefeated in seven starts. Dave Magee, who reined three stakes winners on the program, had his charge on the point by the :56.2 half-mile marker and controlled the race from there on, crossing the wire in a lifetime best of 1:52.3. Mystical MJ (Marcus Miller) was second and Little Maeve (Mike Oosting) finished third.

Trainer Dirk Simpson describes Pardon as an “amazing and awesome filly. She can do it about anyway you want — from off the pace, or doing it the hard way like today.”

Richard Balog owns the freshman speedball with earnings of $66,306.

Timothy M. Jones photos

Boi lowered his mark to 1:52.1 with a win on Thursday.

The Simpson entourage returned to the winner’s circle when Boi (Dave Magee) overcame a “brutal” first over trip to the half, then battled all comers to the wire in a 1:52.1 mile. Playin For Keeps (Jamaica Patton) crossed the wire second and Flowmaster (Mike Cox) was third.

“He’s just kind of a little, average horse,” said Simpson. “He doesn’t really ever let you know what he has in the tank. But today he did. He had every right to get beat today, but he hung in there as tough as can be. He’s a racehorse — he sure is.”

Dr. Peter Karras bred the Sportsmaster-Rachel Hanover gelding, and co-owns with Jodi Siamis and trainer Simpson. Boi has won four of his last five starts, boasts a new lifetime mark, and has purse earnings of $22,602.

Those who also captured Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes titles on Thursday were:

3-Year-Old Filly Pace
Mystical Victress (Sportsmaster-Sneakheravalentine)
Time: 1:50.4 (Equaled the six-day meet’s fastest miles set by Ms Maggie and Power Of A Moment)
Driver: Marcus Miller
Trainer: Erv Miller
Owners: Mystical Marker Farms LLC and Peggy Hood

3-Year-Old Filly Trot
Powerful Bella (Powerful Emotion-Fox Valley Bella)
Time: 1:58
Driver: Marcus Miller
Trainer: Nelson Willis
Owner: Sawgrass Farms LLC

2-Year-Old Filly Trot
My Miss Caroline (Psychic Spirit-Miss Clara T)
Time: 1:59
Driver: Dave Magee
Trainer: Robert Taylor
Owners: La Bella Vita Stables, Spencer Taylor and Kevin Dixon