Drivin Miss Rudee made a successful return to Virginia Saturday afternoon when she captured the first leg of the “Mad Dash For Cash” Pacing Series at Colonial
Downs.
The nine-year-old Walton Hanover mare invaded from Harrington Raceway, fresh off a half length win on Tuesday. Joey Mapes guided Drivin Miss Rudee to a wire-to-wire effort in the three-quarter mile dash in 1:23.1.
After leaving from Post 3, she got to the front and posted initial fractions of :26.2 and :54.1 before holding off fast closing Beyond Perfection at the finish by one half length.
The Cindy Englebach trainee earned her 40th career win, and fifth of 2011. In 2007, Driving Miss Rudee collected a 1:50.3 winning mile at Colonial Downs, but had not competed at the track in the past couple years. The winner returned $6.20.
Driver Corey Braden had six wins on the afternoon as his battle with Chris Page for top reinsman at Colonial heated up. The 41-year-old Braden scored with Bees Knees, Benns Thunder, Boat House Row, Southwind Matrix, Westedge Matt and Perfekjenlmnkalfas to pull ahead of Page in the standings, 39-38. Page entered Saturday’s action with a 36-33 advantage, and got a pair of wins himself with Polo Johnny and Just Slick. Braden’s “double hat trick” though more than made up the deficit, and came exactly one week after Page got six wins on a Saturday card.
(Colonial Downs)