Kelsey Wagner's Brooksforreal shattered the track record for two-year-old gelding pacers -- for the second straight week -- when he captured an $11,111 Virginia Breeders Stakes elimination on Sunday at Shenandoah Downs.
The son of Rustys For Real tripped the timer in his wire-to-wire performance in 1:54.1, nearly two seconds better than his 1:56 effort a week ago. The talented John Wagner trainee won his eighth race in a row and pushed his earnings to $169,562.
Not to overlooked was the performance of Paxamillion, who was runner-up and finished 1-3/4 lengths behind, a week after his first leg Virginia Breeders elimination score in 1:56.3. The Britney Dillon trainee was a solid second behind Brooksforreal throughout the mile Sunday and now sets the stage for a rematch in the $90,975 USD final in the male pacing category next Sunday. Oct. 27. Corey Braden drove the winner while Luke Hanners was aboard the runner-up. Caviart Act Two finished third and also advanced to the final.
Lucinda Belcher's Bday won the other freshman male pace elimination in 1:59.1. The Herman Hagerman trainee got a cover trip behind Rustys Lancelot, went outside in mid-stretch and hit the wire half a length in front with Luke Hanners in the bike. Mr Big Check finished third.
In the two-year-old filly pace eliminations, Elwood Tignor's Mygirlmia and Dr. Edward Ward's Caviart Acadia each scored division wins. The former earned her first lifetime win in nine starts and improved from a third-place finish a week prior. William Carter piloted the More Than Better filly to a 1:57.1 clocking. The latter wired the field in 1:58.1 in just her second lifetime start and rebounded from a fourth-place finish a week ago. The Captain Crunch filly crossed the finish line in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver James Stiltner II. KJ Becky and Caviart Snowdrop finished second and third in the first elimination while Caviart Maria and Prairie Puma rounded out the latter division's top three.
In Saturday's freshman trotting eliminations, trainers John Wagner and Carlo Poliseno each scored a pair of victories respectively with freshmen.
Wagner's Roan Ridge and Swervingmervin each collected their first lifetime victories in 2:03 and 1:58.4, respectively. The former was making his fifth start while the latter was making his 12th. Wagner and Braden were in the sulky, respectively. Kelsey Wagner of Fairfax, Virginia owns both winners. HS Jesse and I Luv Women rounded out the top three in the first while Mane Man Charlie and TJ Jadster were second and third in the latter.
Poliseno's pair, Song Master and Kats Fancy, wired the field in their respective eliminations. Both broke stride in first round eliminations but stayed flat on Saturday with Poliseno in the bike. Song Master, a Glidemaster filly, won in 2:02.3 while Kats Fancy, a daughter of Dusty Winner, crossed the wire in 2:01.2. Jane Dunavant of Kenbridge, Virginia owns both. Speedy Gal was second in the first division and Scott K J Title was third. In the latter, K J The Thirteenth finished second and Royal Toni took third.
With Breeders Stakes two and three-year-old elimination races for both sexes and gaits now complete, the Champions Day card on Sunday is set. The eight divisional bouts will chase a combined $720,625 USD in purse monies. A four-pack of $20,000 USD Virginia Breeders aged races will also be on the card along with a couple other top level overnight races. The fall meet's closing day card will go to post at 1:05 p.m.
(With files from Shenandoah Downs)