Itrustyou overcame a rough gaited moment at the third fraction and rebounded in time to capture the $4,000 Virginia-bred two-year-old colt/gelding pace Saturday evening at Colonial Downs
.
Four Virginia-bred freshman prep races were contested Saturday, though three were non-betting events that took place before the first pari-mutuel race. Sophomore preps take place Sunday and both age groups will compete in next Saturday’s $300,000 (est.) Day of Champions.
Trainer-driver Dean Collins directed Itrustyoyu through a challenging trip, but he prevailed in his first Virginia appearance this fall. The Third Straight gelding was 13 lengths behind at the first quarter and nearly seven behind at the half. After going off stride and regaining his composure, Itrustyou passed Blueridge Foolin, Lookout Josh and Fast Heat in the stretch and crossed the wire in 1:55.3.
Collins, who has not competed at Colonial as a regular the past two seasons, was the leading trainer in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
In the three non-bettors, Blueridge Dragon and Twincreeks Jazz won their respective prep races while Blueridge Lataglia parlayed a perfect pocket journey into a victory in the final prep.
Blueridge Dragon captured the colt/gelding trot for trainer-owner Michael Gillock by three and one-half lengths in 2:02.3. Wayne Long directed the victor to his fourth win of the year. The Donerail gelding has bankrolled $17,800 in his two-year-old campaign.
Though Twincreeks Jazz faced only three other foes in the filly pace, she triggered an impressive 1:56.2 effort with leading reinsman Corey Braden aboard. It was the second lifetime win for trainer Jason Skinner’s pacer.
The final prep saw Blueridge Lataglia win her racing debut in the filly trot. Winsome Moni cut early fractions of :30.4, 1:02 and 1:32 before driver Chuck Perry directed Blueridge Lataglia away the rail and to the lead. The winner finished in 2:02.2 for trainer Vickielynn Lake and owner Darlene Conway of Abingdon, Virginia.
(Colonial Downs)