Defending ICF freshman colt pacing champion Gorgeous Big Guy (Cordarius Stewart) extended his winning streak to eight straight Thursday at Du Quoin. (Terry Young Photo

By Mike Paradise for the I.H.A.A.

   The opening day of racing at the 2024 Du Quoin meet won’t soon by forgotten by the “Mississippi Boys.” Five winning horses, driven by five different natives of the Magnolia State, won on Thursday’s card.

 Cordarius Stewart (Jackson) had a three first place finishes while Kelcey Perymond (Clinton), Jamaal Denson (Jackson), Zyler Maxwell (Macon), and Marcus Turner (Byram) had one each.

  Mississippi born Jamaica Patton (Jackson), had a training double, while Mississippi conditioners Terry Skinner (Starkville), Charles Arthur (Terry) and Dossier Minor) also greeted the judges.

 The feature events on the 14-race cards were a pair of events for ICF 3 or 4-year-old pacers. The tenth race contest for colt and geldings event went as expected as last year’s state-bred make champion Gorgeous Big Guy, confidently driver by Cordarius, made it look easy in 1:54.3. It was the eighth consecutive triumph for the youngster.

 However, there was a surprise winner in the gal’s division. On paper, it looks like a toss-up between a trio of 3-year-olds—Illini Belle, Fox Valley Tasha, and Stevie Mae—but it was the 4-year-old longshot (if there was wagering) Fillys Revenge, nicely rated by Wyatt Avenatti who went all the way, prevailing in 1:55.3.

 The Revenge Shark homebred, trained by John Fletcher, is owned by her breeder Stevanna Turner of Argenta, Illinois.

 Despite being sidelined for almost eight months, defending freshman filly state-bred trot titleholder Whiskey Lou, won impressively in 1:58.3 for the driver-trainer combination of Casey Leonard and Curt Grummel.

  And keep an eye on the Lou’s Legacy progeny Jewels For Champ (Cordarius Stewart) who looked very good in his 1:59.3 victory for the Midwest Division of the Erv Miller stable. A $32,000 purchase at the 2022 Walker Standardbred Sale, Jewels For Champ has already won in 1:55.4 at Hoosier Park when he was hammered down to 60 cents on the dollar that mid-May start. The youngster was unraced as a juvenile.

 Casey Leonard led all drivers with a four bagger Thursday while Cordarious had himself a successful afternoon as well with three winners, two for the Midwest Division of the Erv Miller stable.

 Hawthorne’s meeting at the two State Fair venues shifts to Springfield next week with programs on Thursday, June 13th and Friday, June 14th. Free live videos of the Du Quoin and Springfield races are available throughout the summer at www.trotnpacemarketing.com.