Over the first three weeks of the Colonial Downs fall harness racing season, numerous different drivers have had standout days where they collected three wins or more. On Saturday, reinsman Chris Page took his turn, collecting five wins over the 12-race program
.
Page, who missed the first week of action at Colonial Downs, connected in the first race with a wire-to-wire effort aboard Mary Dawson’s Major Sale. The two-year-old Art Major gelding earned his first lifetime win by 1-1/2 lengths over Lanco Express, crossing the wire in 1:57.1. Major Sale is owned by Herman Hagerman of North Tazewell, Virginia.
The 27-year-old reinsman stayed outside the entire race with Whythehellnot N in the fifth race as the seven-year-old Christian Cullen horse came from behind to nip Western Tower by one-half length in 1:52.3. The winner is another Dawson/Hagerman trained/owned pacer, who gained his fifth triumph of 2011.
Polo Johnny, who thrives at the fall Colonial meets, gave Page his third win of the day in the seventh. Then seven-year-old Polo Player gelding passed Pinball Machine, Wittys Beachboy and Als Beachboy in deep stretch to gain a tight half-length victory. The Jeff Amann trainee has a pair of wins and seconds in four Virginia starts this meet. The betting choice crossed in 1:53.3.
Page took over driving duties aboard Taste Of Paradise in the next race and won his fourth by the slimmest of margins. The three-year-old filly trotter won her ’11 Colonial bow on September 21, but had troubled trips in her last pair. Page guided Jane Dunavant’s horse to a thrilling neck win over My Buddy Hall Lee after an exciting stretch duel. The winning time of 1:58.2 was a lifetime best.
Another close win board Celebrity Lovin in the 11th race gave Page his driving quintet. Doreen Dailey’s freshman filly trotter, who was competing in a non-winners of one event, battled with Bees Knees after the pair separated themselves from the rest of the field in mid-stretch. Celebrity Lovin crossed one half length better in 1:58.3.
(Colonial Downs)