With a temperature of 90 degrees and feature races carded at 1-1/4 miles, the prospect of seeing thoroughbreds compete over the Colonial Downs turf course Sunday afternoon seemed like a possibility, but it was pacers and trotters that battled in a pair of long distance series finales over the New Kent dirt oval.
The final legs of the Good Ole USA $8,300 Trot and $8,900 Pace were contested in back-to-back races. Pro Deuce swept the pace by scoring a tight win over Sigh Of Relief and Charlie B in a blanket finish while Rockin To Do edged Elvis Returns by half a length in the trotting feature.
Trainer/driver Jason Thompson’s Pro Deuce scored a first leg division win in 1:53, then wired the field in the sole second leg division at a seven-eighth-mile distance. The four-year-old Pro Bono Best gelding took advantage of a perfect pocket trip in the final to nip pacesetter Charlie B and fast-closing Sigh Of Relief in 2:26. Thompson’s only three drives at the Colonial fall meet have been aboard Pro Deuce and all have been wins.
Stacy McLenaghan’s Rockin To Do earned a first leg division win in a lifetime best 1:55.3, but went off-stride in the following leg and finished ninth in a 10-horse field. Jason MacDougall took over in the sulky Sunday and guided the eight-year-old Glory B River gelding to a come from behind win in 2:29.2. After Taste Of Paradise set the first four fractions, Rockin To Do came to the far outside at the head of the stretch and passed Apparition and the front-stepper en route to his 26th lifetime win.
(Colonial Downs)