Perfect Number and Filomena, runners-up in their respective 2013 Virginia-bred colt and filly pacing championship divisions as two-year-olds, scored wins in their three-year-old prep races Sunday at Colonial Downs in advance of next weekend’s $350,000 Day of Champions card.
After Christmas Parade dominated the first half of the $5,000 colt pace, Perfect Number came three-wide out of the turn, passed a trio of front-steppers in mid-stretch and charged home to win in a lifetime-best 1:55.2. The Art Official gelding, who won his freshman prep a year ago, crossed three lengths ahead of Top Official. Leading driver Corey Braden directed the effort for trainer Freddy Darby. Last year's champ Handsome Jim was third in Sunday’s warm-up.
Filomena on the other hand, took the lead from the start and never looked back in the filly division. The Western Ideal miss triggered quarter fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:26.4 before closing the deal in 1:54.4 nearly two lengths over 2013 champ Santa Baby. Reinsman Braden guided Filomena for trainer Fran Raia II. For the second straight year, the three-year-old girls were speedier than the boys.
The three-year-old trot events were held as non-bettors before the pari-mutuel card began and both freshman champs returned to the winner's circle again. Always Quick Star, fresh off a win, second and third at the current fall meet, scored in the filly division in 2:01.3 while Jingle Bells (2:01.4) only had to beat one other foe in a two-horse colt division.
In Saturday’s two-year-old prep races, Here Comes Lucy took advantage of a pocket trip and captured the filly pace prep in a thrilling finish where a neck margin separated the top three finishers. Pacesetter Cams Filly carried a slight lead into the top of the stretch but the eventual winner, Blueridge Pushy and Loves You Baby all came from behind to engage in the heart stopper. Here Comes Lucy, a Scott Warnick trainee, crossed the wire in 2:00.3. The Allies Western filly now has seven “in the money” finishes from just eight starts.
Trainer Frank Gannon’s Riggy wired the field in 1:57.2 in an uneventful colt and gelding pace. The Riggins colt tripped the timer in :29.3, :59.2 and 1:29.2 before crossing the wire four and a half lengths ahead of Bossman Mike. Riggy is owned by Leonard Hubbard and was driven by Frank Milby.
A neck came into play in the filly trot prep as Elma Lou squeaked out a close win over Kiss My Cart in a three-horse field. Renegade Marie went off stride coming out of the turn so a match race played out in the final quarter between the remaining pair. The neck victor, a Cantab Hall filly, finished in 2:07.4.
Wilbur Eden dominated in the colt and gelding prep, besting a trio of other contenders in 2:01.1. The Federal Flex colt wired the field and hit the wire four lengths ahead of runner-up I Am Delightful.
Entries will be drawn for next Sunday’s “Day of Champions” card this Thursday, October 23.
(Colonial Downs)