The Erv Miller stable’s Fox Valley Duram (Cordarius Stewart) sets his sights on a third consecutive victory in Friday’s second race division of the ISFCS freshman colt pace elimination . (Patricia Fryman Photography)

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA

It’s “D-Day” at the Illinois State Fair a Springfield for ICF two-year-old pacers and trotters. The “D” stands for “Decision” Just who will advance to next week’s ISFCS championships and who won’t.

Elimination races can be tricky events. In some cases, a driver can just get the job done and advance his horse with something left in the tank for the final.

For example, in the case of both the male and female trotting eliminations where just being fifth or better is good enough to move on and most are seven horse fields.

However, that’s not the case with the two-year-old state-bred colt and gelding or filly pacing divisions. There’s no “holding back” and coasting into those pacing finals.

With 25 horses entered in the filly pacing eliminations, four divisions were needed, meaning only the first two finishers in each division are assured of moving into the distaff final. A drawing by lot will determine which two of the four third place finishers advance.

Just my opinion, but I always preferred that the fastest of the third-place horses would advance. That way a horse who was a non-contending third with a much slower time, and maybe in an softer split, is not rewarded.

It doesn’t get much easier to also advance in the freshman colt or gelding class. With three eliminations, only the first three finishers move on. A drawing will see one of a trio of fourth place horses go into the final.

Some of the anticipated Illinois State Fair marquee matchups will have to wait another week to wager on.

Yes, after eight weeks of non-wagering races that followed almost nine months of no racing at all in our state, we can at long last bet on Illinois harness races.

Dennis Gardner’s Deenoo (Travis Seekman) and Shady Maple Alstar (Juan Franco) from the barn of Herman Wheeler, the two early leaders in the male trotting category drew into different divisions.

Maple Shady Alstar, who beat Deebo the last time they met after finishing second best to his rival in their previous two outings, has the rail in the eighth race first split while Deenbo, with 5 wins and 2 seconds in 8 lifetime starts, leaves from post four one race later.

Last year’s ICF freshman male trotting champ Goomster (Travis Seekman), another Gardner trainee, has been victorious in 7 of his first 8 starts as a three-year-old and has the four slot in the first sophomore colt and gelding division while his rival Niko Man, currently riding a four race winning streak against some tough open foes at Hoosier for the Midwest division of the Erv Miller stable, has the pole position in the 13th and final race of the day.

The ISFCS elimination races for three-year-olds pacers and trotters will take place on Saturday’s card along with a quartet of championships for aged ICF horses. Post time is 11 am.