The “birthday boy” Casey Leonard acknowledges racing fans applause after another driving victory. (Al Brodsky photo) 

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA

 It was, to say the least, a fascinating day of racing at Springfield Wednesday when eight Illinois stake champions were crowned.

 One long winning streak continued while another came to an end, no fault of the horse or his driver. A record performance was established for an ICF 2-year-old pacer, Marcus Miller returned to his home grounds and left, no doubt, with a smile on his face, and horses starting horses from the 10-slot second tier didn’t have much racing luck.

 Here’s how it all unfolded:

 The first of eight Illinois Department of Agriculture champions to visit the winner’s circle was in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing division that saw the “birthday boy” Casey Leonard provide a heady winning drive behind Cash Money Twenty in a quick time of 1:50 flat, a new all-time record for an Illinois bred pacer.

 The now 47-year-old Leonard made what turned out to be the winning move in the first turn as Battling Bob (Travis Seekman) and Fox Valley Mamba (Matt Avenatti) battled to a blistering 26 flat quarter, Casey wisely ducked Cash Money Twenty into the pocket behind the two-dueling freshman.

  As the battled continued past a 53.4 second quarter time and through the 1:21.2 third panel, Casey waited patiently for an opening in the stretch and when it came his Stevensville youngster delivered, powering past for about a three-length victory, the Mike Brink trainee’s fifth in six careers starts for Iowa owners Heart & Soul Racing.

 Next up was another $55,000 IDOA showdown, this one for Prairie State juvenile filly trotters, and despite a first-over journey, Kays In Charge proved fastest in the lane with Travis Seekman. Trained by Tom Simmons for the (Marty) Engle Stable of Northbrook, Illinois, the 1:58 flat triumph was the winner’s fourth in six career starts to go along with a pair of seconds.

 Lou’s My Number (Casey Leonard) came on for second while the pacesetter What A Legacy (Kyle Wilfong) held on for third.

 One of the most anticipated races on the card, the Illinois showdown for 3-year-old colts and pacers followed, and the Erv Miller trained Gorgeous Big Guy (Marcus Miller) extended his winning streak to a lofty 14 in a row with a 1:50.2 clocking.

 Stablemate Fox Valley Durham (Kyle Wilfong) finished second. Longshot You Never Can Tell (Brandon Bates) came on strong for third while Guitar Man (Travus Seekman) had to settle for fourth.

 Gorgeous Big Guy worked hard to make the front with a 26.2 first quarter. He was quickly challenged and passed by Doctor Cruise (Kyle Husted, who quickly gave the lead it back to Gorgeous Big Guy, an Ashlee’s Big Guy homebred.

 Gorgeous Big Guy put away stretch bids from Fox Valley Durham, Guitar Man, Fox Valley Ramiro and the late rushing You Can Never Tell for winning owners Doug Overhiser (New Smyma Beach, FL) and Mark Winship (Canton, IL) to keep is spot at No. 1 in the Illinois glamour division.

 The tightest finish of the championships saw the Amy Husted trained Thebeautifulthings, driven by her husband Kyle, eke out a nose victory over the fast-closing Wildcat Abby (Casey Leonard) in the freshman filly final.

 The 1:52.1 mile was the fifth win in six lifetime starts for the Somestarsomewhere filly owned by Doug Overhiser, Mark Winship, John Schwarz (Wooddale, IL) and Husted Racing (Altamont, IL).

 Thebeautifulthings didn’t take command until after the 28 flat first quarter and looked to be in good shape after a slow 29.4 second panel. She had a comfortable lead until Wildcat Abby came from out of it in the lane, gobbling up ground, and almost pulled off the upset.

  The trotters took over the spotlight next in the 2-year-old male category where Louise’s Legacy, given a perfect two-hole trip by Marcus Miller, overtook Sunburnt Legacy (Casey Leonard) in the final strides.

 A 1:58.4 mile time was good enough to grab the winner’s share of the $55,000 purse for her owners Geis Enterprise (Chicago) and Erv Miller Stable (Wind Cap, PA).

 Marcus was content to let Sunburnt Legacy coast to very modest fractions of 29 flat, 1:01, and 1:30 while his trotter was in the pocket and then let his Lou’s Legacy colt out-trot his rival in the lane.

 The pacers were back in the spotlight for the 3-year-old filly championship and Fox Valley Sadie (Kyle Husted) displayed a gutsy winning performance in her 1:52.1 mile.

 The Time To Roll filly, trained by Amy Husted, had to pace a quick 54,4 first half to have the lead but once there Fox Valley Sadie outpaced the division leader Hypeyourbestieup to post victory No. 5 in 10 season starts.

 Fox Valley Tessa (Wyatt Avenatti) made a big effort to be second, beaten by about one length. Dandy’s Ms Swifty rallied late to edge Hypeyoubesttieup for third.

Whiskey Lou (Casey Leonard) is no longer unbeaten as a 3-year-old. The Curt Grummel standout was impeded trying to get position early from the 10-hole in the sophomore filly showdown and was never a factor to keep her winning streak intact.

 Fortunately for the Grummel stable, it was stablemate Calypso Moon (Kyle Wilfong) who did get the narrow victory over a late closing Fox Valley Tiegen (Marcus Miller). Peekaboo Sal (Wyatt Avenatti) took third.

 Another 10-hole trip proved to be a disappointment for driver Casey Leonard as the 3-year-old male division trot leader Lous Private Eye had to settle for second when Tru Cash supplied Marcus Miller with his third championship drive of the day.

 The Erv Miller trainee had command most of the way, however it appeared Lous Private Eye was about to pass the Lindy’s Tru gelding when he unexpectedly went off-stride coming out of the last turn. Casey quickly got his horse back trotting but at the expense of losing much ground.

 Lous Private Eye did get second and Moppies Mooss (Matt Avenatti) took third.