Ricks Crossroads shook off a rocky start in Saturday’s $4,000 Virginia Breeder’s prep race at Colonial Downs, then came back to win by a neck after a thrilling comeback in the stretch

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A large nine-horse field of sophomore colt and gelding pacers prepped for next Saturday’s “Day of Champions” card, and Ricks Crossroads Halloween night prep could not have started any worse. The three-year-old Dream Away gelding broke stride at the start and was buried almost 13 lengths behind at the opening quarter.

Charlie Meador cut the opening panel in :26.3 over a good track, then continued his assault with a :56 half and a 1:26.1 third quarter. Driver Jason MacDougall rallied Ricks Crossroads though to within five lengths of the leader coming out of the turn, then stormed past seven front-steppers in the stretch to nip fast closing Nicota by a neck at the wire in 1:55.2.

Ricks Crossroads, who earned his first win of 2009, is trained by Fran Raia II for the Richie Pat Bonvie Stable of Florida. Betting favourite Richies Place took third.

In other Virginia-bred three-year-old action, Charlie Dunavant’s Blue Motorcycle captured the colt and gelding trot in 2:00, John Wagner’s Sadie Eden took the filly trot in 1:59 and Don Milby’s Tidewater Misty won the filly pace in 1:54.4.

All two- and three-year-old divisions will be decided in next Saturday’s “Day of Champions” card at Colonial.

(Colonial Downs)