Scotts Sweety, sent off at 33-1, pulled a stunning upset in Wednesday’s $6,350 final leg of the Women of Virginia Pacing Series at Colonial Downs
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The nine-year-old mare only competed in the first of three preliminary series legs and finished sixth. That was held at the abbreviated three-quarter mile distance, while the second leg was at a mile and the final two, including Wednesday’s, were at 1-1/4 miles.
Wildfire Princess, with back-to-back series wins, was the heavy 1-5 betting choice. Driver J.D. Wengerd and trainer Virgil Morgan’s pacer, who won by three lengths last week in 2:26.3, never found her gear though, lumbering near last through much of the initial mile over a sloppy track.
Dustin Ingraham’s Scotts Sweety on the other hand, controlled the field initially, surrendered to Riverlea Hanover past the quarter, then reclaimed the lead coming out of the second turn. She pulled away in mid stretch and crossed three lengths better than runner-up Expensive Bay in 2:27.4.
Ingraham, who owns, trains and drives the longshot, entered his winning pacer in four conditioned races after that initial series defeat. She collected three in the money finishes from that quartet, including a win six days ago. Scotts Sweety won for the 29th time and boosted her career earnings over the $177,000 mark.
(Colonial Downs)