Eloise Eden wired the field and scored a convincing six and a half length win in Saturday’s $5,000 Virginia-bred two-year-old filly trot, which served as a prep for next Sunday’s $50,000 (est.) finale at Colonial Downs.
Dan O’Mara guided the Ken Warkentin filly for trainer Joann Perry and owner Mark Bowser of Charlottesville.
Eloise Eden, fresh off a pair of qualifying wins at Vernon Downs, cut fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:27.3 before cruising home in 1:56.4. Makers Guide was second and Beep Beep Bye Bye was third.
Jane Dunavant’s Candid Photo had a similar wire-to-wire effort in the two-year-old colt and gelding trot, but he dominated as four of the six entrants had breaking issues.
The Classic Photo gelding cut panels of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:29.3 before he coasted across the finish line in 1:59.1, 16 lengths over runner-up Dustys Superstar.
Co-owned by Dunavant and Katherine Smith of Glen Allen, Candid Photo was coming off a convincing six length win at Colonial in 1:57.3. Chris Page guided the winner in both races.
The fillies were faster than the colts and geldings in the freshman pacing preps as well. Morgan Hagerman’s Blueridge Adalia edged Miss Sowo in the filly prep in 1:55.1 while Amanda Jackson’s Hilbily Mtn Breeze took advantage of a perfect pocket trip to capture the colt and gelding pace in 1:56.1.
The three-year-old divisions will compete Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. All eight Virginia-bred championship titles will be decided in next Sunday’s $400,000 “Day of Champions” showcase event.
(With files from Colonial Downs)