JD Wengerd directed Wildfire Princess to a third leg stake victory, his first of five driving wins on the day at Colonial Downs, in the Women of Virginia Pacing Series, which was contested at the unique distance of 1-1/4 miles
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The heavy betting choice was coming off a second leg triumph in 1:52.4, and Wednesday’s win came via the same come from behind fashion as a week ago. Wildfire Princess was sixth at the half then came three-wide heading into the second turn. After Fakeutu Bluegrass cut the mile fraction in 1:58.2, Wengerd’s trotting mare made her move and passed all front-steppers en route to a three length win in 2:26.3.
Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Carl Howard of Richmond, Kentucky, Wildfire Princess earned her 10th win of the year from just 17 starts. She will headline the $5,000 final on October 12th at the 1-1/4 mile distance again.
Wengerd, with his biggest day ever at Colonial, also connected with Action SJ, Perfekjenlmnkalfas, Artie Bacardi and Elegant Girl, all of which are trained by Morgan Jr.
A Fool For Mark continued his fall dominance at Colonial by crushing the the first VHHA Pacing Series third leg division field on Wednesday. Dustin Ingraham’s pacer, which set a life mark of 1:51.2 last week in the stake’s second leg, took control of the field from Overseer NZ at the three-quarter mark, then coasted home to a nine length win in 2:24.3.
Ingraham, who also owns and trains the five-year-old Western Ideal gelding, has directed A Fool For Mark to five wins and a tight runner up finish in the meet’s first 11 race days.
Artie Bacardi captured the second VHHA division with another well timed move from Wengerd. The six-year-old Real Artist gelding made up for a third place finish in last week’s leg by grabbing a cover trip Fox Valley Sly through the turn then dominating in the stretch to win by four-plus lengths in 2:27.4.
(Colonial Downs)