Brooksforreal won his ninth straight race in wire-to-wire fashion and track record time on Sunday, Oct. 27 in the $126,354 Virginia Breeder's Stakes divisional championship for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Shenandoah Downs. A total of eight Breeder's Stakes titles for two and three-year-olds were contested with more than $1 million in purse money on the line.
The John Wagner-trained two-year-old pacing gelding by Rustys For Real wired the field in two previous eliminations on Oct. 13 and 20 and established a new track mark in each of those for freshman gelding pacers -- in 1:56 and 1:54.1, respectively. Brooksforreal started on Sunday from post two with Corey Braden in the bike against seven others, hit the opening quarter in :26.3 and half in :55.4 while maintaining a length-plus cushion over the Britney Dillion trainee, Paxamillion. The front-stepper opened up the second time around, crossing the third marker 3-1/2 lengths in front in 1:25.1 then cruised home in 1:53.3, 5-1/2 lengths the best. With the win, Brooksforreal's bankroll surged to $232,738 from just 13 starts for owner/breeder Kelsey Wagner of Fairfax, Virginia. Paxamillion, who completed a solid Breeder's Stakes series, finished second while Caviart Cash was third.
The next fastest winning mile on Sunday was authored by trainer Lawrence Cooper's Caviart Simon in the $117,222 three-year-old colt and gelding pace. The Always B Miki gelding had a win and a third in elimination action but picked it up a notch with more money on the line. Reinsman Archie Buford led the wire-to-wire effort and after opening up by five lengths over runner-up Bgoing Away at the half, Caviart Simon never let up. He crossed the wire in 1:54, 8-1/4 lengths the best. His previous best time in his first 26 starts was 1:55.2 in the second elimination race.The Marshal took third.
Caviart Farms' homebred Caviart Ainsley powered home in the stretch, catching and passing second-place finisher Sweet Pirategirl just before the wire to secure the win in the $121,667 three-year-old filly pace title match. The daughter of Captain Crunch came within a fifth of her 1:55 previous best, which was set at Pocono Downs. The Tony Alagna trainee was driven by 20-year-old William Carter. Caviart Farms' Caviart Dawn finished third. Fourth-place finisher Caviart Sophie, also owned the Caviart group of Buck and Judy Chaffee, was sent off as the betting choice based on back-to-back elimination wins but broke at the start and in the stretch.
In three-year-old trotting finals, Jane Dunavant's homebred Pretty Two got his picture taken in the $119,444 colt and gelding bout while Nanticoke Racing Inc. & Delbert Cain's Platinum Proposal took top honours in the $125,000 filly counterpart. Pretty Two, sired by Dusty Winner, competed in one early Breeder's Stakes leg and prevailed in 2:01.1, and on Sunday, got to the front after departing the rail spot and never looked back, winning by three lengths over Geralds A Keeper in a new life mark of 1:57.2. Cody Poliseno piloted the victor for trainer Carlo Poliseno. K J Dash finished third.
Platinum Proposal swept her three leg Breeder's Stakes series, putting a cherry on top of her elimination wins with a wire-to-wire, three-length victory over Speedy Town in the final. Jim Morand was in the sulky for trainer Les Givens again and the E L Platinum filly did not disappoint after being sent off at odds of 1-9. She finished in 2:00.4 and increased her career earnings to $273,618. Glide Along finished third.
In two-year-old trotting finals, Kelsey Wagner's Swervingmervin was best in the $128,021 colts and gelding trot while Caviart Farms picked up their second championship trophy on Sunday in the $131,250 filly category with Caviart Glory, who starred after leaving from outside post eight.
The former, who holds the track record time of 1:58.4 in that division, left from post four with Braden in the sulky. After triggering a 1:30.3 third fraction and holding a six-length cushion over two other Wagner horses -- Roan Ridge and Magoo Will Do -- Swervingmervin coasted home with a :30.4 closing quarter and was 2-1/2 lengths the best in 2:01.2.
Five of the seven entrants in the filly trot broke stride which opened the door for the Philip Scott Sonsteby-trained Caviart Glory to triumph easily after securing a perfect pocket trip the first time around. Sonsteby, who was in the bike, led the Greenshoe filly past breaking leader Kats Fancy before the third fraction and went on to a nine-length victory in 1:59.1. In her sole elimination race, Caviart Glory wired the field and crossed 20 lengths in front. K J The Thirteenth finished second on Sunday while Song Master took third.
In the final Breeder's Stakes, breeder Scott Woogen's K J Becky collected her first lifetime win in the $131,910 filly pace after being sent off at 8-1, the highest odds of any stakes winner on Sunday. The daughter of Huntsille was fresh off respective sixth and second-place finishes in the elimination rounds and left from post two with leading driver Fern Paquet Jr. aboard. The Gary Messenger trainee maintained a one-length lead over Mygirlmia through three-quarters then opened up a bit in the stretch and crossed the wire in 1:57. The winner had been sent off at 20-1 in each her elims. Caviart Maria was second and Mygirlmia was third.
The Woodstock, Virginia oval completed its ninth fall season as a pari-mutuel track and, combined with its 2024 spring meet, raced a total of 28 days over 14 weeks. The track has applied for a pair of seven week meets again in 2025 and, pending Virginia Racing Commission approval, will kick off its spring season on April 26 and run through June 8. Fall dates are planned from Sept.13 through Oct. 26. Details will be available at shenandoahdowns.com.
(With files from Shenandoah Downs)