CHARLESTON — Last year Michael Rogers was only able to drive in one of the three days of the harness racing at the Coles County Fair. Still, Rogers won a couple of races on that final day. Rogers could only make one of the days at the Coles County Fair because he was too busy claiming the driver’s title at Altamont that same week.

This year, the Coles County Fair and the Effingham County Fair were on different dates, allowing Rogers to drive on all three days at the Coles County Fair. Rogers made the most of it, too.

Even though Rogers didn’t win on the final day of harness racing on Friday, he still racked up enough wins to claim the driver’s title at the Coles County Fair, knocking off Freddie Patton Jr., who won the title the last three years.

Rogers won two races on Wednesday night and two more on Thursday for four total victories.

“It has been a good week and we will see if we have another good week at Altamont (next week),” Rogers said. “I’ve got pretty good horses and I hope they stay strong and everything stays good. They changed the dates, so I was able to do both of them and I like (both fairs).”

Rogers was winless through the first nine races on Wednesday before picking up back-to-back victories in the final two races as he drove two horses trained by Tom Simmons. Those two wins gave Rogers some momentum going into Thursday.

“It was a little rough with my 2-year-old trotters. … That’s just racing, sometimes they can get away better than others,” Rogers said. “I won the Downstate Classic with those two.”

Rogers was in contention in a good amount of the races on Thursday and picked up two more wins.

“Thursday was a good day,” Rogers said. “I had a 12-year-old mare and then Macie Rae, she’s just a classy old horse. She’s just good race horse. I love the fair, Coles County has always been good to me.”

In the first race on Friday, Skillful Quacker built a decent lead after the first turn. Drinks On Betsy tried to make a move going into the final turn, but Skillful Quacker was up for the challenge and held off Drinks on Betsy for its second win in three career starts.

Aqua Man and Little Man Sam were neck-and-neck to start the race when Aqua Man pulled away a bit after the first quarter. Then after the first lap, J’s Breeze made a move and challenged Aqua Man, but Aqua Man held off the first charge. J’s Breeze tried to make another charge at the end and once again Aqua Man held off J’s Breeze for his first career win in seven starts. Notable breeder Tom Shinn is the owner of the mare who is Aqua Man’s mother.

SportyBae took the early lead in the third race and kept the lead going into the final turn. Two other horses challenged to make it three wide going into the final turn, but SportyBae held onto a slight lead coming out of the turn and then pulled away for its second win in eight career starts. SportyBae won in 2:04, a new career mark.

Best Balance grabbed the early lead in the fourth race when Make It Shine pulled even at the end of the first lap. But Make It Shine broke stride in the third turn and Best Balance driver Barak Patton took advantage. Best Balance built a big lead and cruised to the easy win. It was the second win of the day for 17-year-old Patton and the second win of 2017 for Best Balance.

In the fifth race, Ashlee’s Nannah built a big lead early and held onto it after the third turn. Susan Sage pulled even by the final turn and had the lead going into the final stage. Susan Sage held on for the win in a career-best time in 2:01, six seconds better than its previous career best. It was the third win for Susan Sage in 2017.

Sirius Speedway had the early led in the sixth race when Smooth N Creamy pulled even at the end of the first lap. Sirius Speedway took a slight lead going into the final turn and started to pull away at the end of the third for the win in 2:03, a career-best mark. It was the third win in 11 starts for Sirius Speedway.

Autumn Storm had the lead after quarter in the seventh race when Piana made a move to take a slight lead at the end of the first lap and built a short lead right after. Autumn Storm stayed in second and made a charge in the final turn to grab the lead. Autumn Storm coasted the rest of the way for the two-length lead for the third win in seven career races.

In an eight-horse eighth race, Uncle Bud took the lead after the first turn and led after the first lap. A couple of challengers tried to take the lead on the backstretch, but Uncle Bud held onto the lead at the final turn and went on to pick up its second win in 2017.

In the ninth race, St. Elmo Sage took an early lead and kept it going into the final turn. Rockin Roxine, which was driven by Clark Fairley, hung around in second place and made its move in the final turn. Rockin Roxine took the lead going into the final strentch and won by a length and a half. It was the first career win in five starts for Rockin Roxine and the first win of 2017 for Fairley.

Mama’s Bright Star had the lead at the quarter in the 10th race when Song Cycle Senese made a move in the second turn to take the lead. Song Cycle Senese then set the pacer and went on to win, claiming the win in its second-career race.

Fox Valley Spice took the lead right away in the 11th race. No other horse could give Fox Valley Spice a challenge as Fox Valley Spice picked up the wire-to-wire win, its second in three career starts.

In the final race of the day, WH Carmen led after the quarter and held onto a slight advantage after the first lap. Then One Less Lonely Girl took the lead on the backstretch. On the final turn, Cakeatin Anniemay challenged One Less Lonely Girl and took a lead by a nose on the final stretch. But One Less Lonely Girl pulled ahead again and edged Cakeatin Anniemay for the win. It was the first win of 2017 for One Less Lonely Girl.

By Justin Rust

Reprinted with permission of the Journal Gazette & Times-Courier