Betting favourite Chris Fatta drove past Eagle Lake in deep stretch to capture the $11,050 final leg of the Virginians Pacing Series Wednesday night at Colonial Downs
. The race was contested at the distance of 1-1/4 miles, which actually is one complete circuit at Colonial’s large oval.
Trainer/driver Dustin Ingraham’s pacer was favoured based on a second leg triumph in 1:52.1. Though he crossed in 1:52 in the series’ first leg, Chris Fatta left as a trailer in a twelve-horse field then and encountered traffic congestion in a respectable fifth place finish.
On Wednesday though, with an eight-horse field, traffic was no issue for the four-year-old Quentin Hanover gelding. Eagle Lake, who picked up a first leg victory, took control of the field from the start and led through the mile, posting fractions of :29., :58.3, 1:27.3 and 1:55.3. Ingraham’s charge, who came outside early down the backstretch, had no trouble in the second tier and after easing past the front-stepper in deep stretch, crossed in 2:23.2, one-half length ahead of Eagle Lake. Ricks Crossroads finished third.
Chris Fatta, who is owned by Donald Fraser of Freehold, New Jersey, has made a nice turnaround at the Virginia fall meet. Prior to heading south, he broke stride in back-to-back starts and in a qualifier at Chester, then broke in a qualifying attempt at Colonial. After staying flat in his next qualifying try, he collected a debut victory in Virginia but with another stumble next out. He has since stayed on the pacing gait though four straight times.
(Colonial Downs)