Leon Harris's Prime Hall Caviar added another chapter to his promising young career by dominating a field of two-year-old colt trotters in an $8,000 non-betting Virginia Breeders Stakes elimination race on Sunday, Oct. 30 at Shenandoah Downs.
The two-year-old Armed Dangerously gelding wired the field, again, in 1:59.4 and crossed nine lengths the best. Harris's charge led by three lengths at the quarter, four at the half and four at the top of the stretch before he powered home for his sixth straight win. The fractional times were :31.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2.
Chuck Perry has driven the trotter in all six races and has led at every point of call except one, which occurred Oct. 22 when Prime Hall Caviar was a head behind at the opening quarter. Four of his wins have come at the Shenandoah Downs meet while his first two came during the Shenandoah County Fair meet.
James Brown's Terrys Watching finished second in the elimination while Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen's K J Roberts finished third.
Providence West's Royal Mistake captured the other freshman male trot division handily as well, wiring the field in 2:05.2 and finishing 5-3/4 lengths in front.
Trainer/driver Kim Vincent's Yankee Royalty gelding went off stride in a $100,000 Delaware Breeders Final at Harrington in his previous race but stayed flat in his Woodstock trip.
The Wagner/Woogen-owned K J Alexander finished second and Woogen's K J Cinco Demayo was third.
In addition to the top three in each elimination, fourth-place finishers Idontgiveachuck (Dan Chansky) and Cantab Speed (Tyler Shehan) will participate in Sunday's $90,600 final.
Cary Grady's Miss Norissa battled with Anne McDonald's My Quick Moni throughout Sunday's $8,000 prep for two-year-old trotting fillies and came away with a one-length triumph in 2:01.3. The daughter of Gregory Pecs had a pocket trip throughout the first half, came out approaching the third fraction but ducked back in and waited for the stretch to overtake My Quick Moni.
Driver Fern Paquet Jr. led the way aboard Miss Norissa, who is trained by Joseph Carroll. The filly now has two wins and three runner-up finishes from five starts in Woodstock this fall.
Caviart Farms' Caviart Gwen took third. All eight prep competitors will advance to the $87,325 final.
Charles Myers' Hillbillypacinhill and Mark Wright's Base Stealer won their respective two-year-old filly pace eliminations on Saturday (Oct. 29).
The former, a son of Racing Hill, collected his 10th in-the-money finish in 11 starts with the win. Driver David Myers had his pacer in the pocket through the first half behind Marriageontherocks but when the front-stepper went off stride before the third marker, Hillbillypacinhill took the lead and held on, crossing 2-3/4 lengths in front of Lucky Major (Andrew Scheller) in 1:57.3. Miraclepowerfull (Jimmy Viars) finished third and Center Of It All was fourth (Pamela Wagner).
The latter wired the field in the first of three non-betting races, beating Dan Chansky's Imroddythebagman by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.4. The Rockin Image colt, who won for the third time in his last four starts, is trained by Donna Loney. The runner-up, a Scott Warnick trainee, and Jibberish (Tracy Bradshaw) finished in a photo for second. Nicis All In (Wagner/Woogen) was next in fourth.
The advancing eight will battle Sunday in the $91,100 colt pace final.
Pamela Wagner's Lloyds Loves and Charles Myers' Hillbilyclassygirl won filly pace eliminations on Saturday in 1:57.4 and 2:00, respectively.
The former, who brought a $32,431 bankroll into the race courtesy of Maryland Sire Stakes prep wins at Ocean Downs and Rosecroft, eased past Caviart Farms' Caviart Leeloo in deep stretch to snag a half-length victory. Todd Warren piloted the winner for trainer John Wagner. Clearlydreamy (Pamela Wagner) was third and Idareyoutocutmeoff finished fourth.
The latter, fresh off a win at Northfield Park, paced second behind Caviart Farms' Caviart Sarina through three-quarters, made a move past the leader in the final turn and cruised home to a 2-1/2-length score. Caviart Sarina held on for second while Morgans All In (Pamela Wagner) and Ressies All In (Arlene Cameron) were third and fourth.
The $89,475 final will include the top four from each elimination.
In all, $699,300 in purse monies will be distributed between two- and three-year-old pacing and trotting title bouts Sunday which highlights closing day festivities at Shenandoah Downs. Several $20,000 Virgina Breeders aged races will also be contested that day.
Shenandoah Downs races can we wagered online via TVG, Xpressbet, Twinspires and NYRABets.
(Shenandoah Downs)