Trainer Scott Warnick kicked off the Shenandoah Downs spring harness meet in Woodstock, Va. by scoring a natural hat trick on Saturday, April 11, including the $13,889 Open Handicap Pace with Lous Starr.
He connected with Debbie Warnick's Baltimore Jack N and Scott Woogen's K J The Thirteenth, then scored in the Open with Dan Chansky's Lous Starr to finish off the triple.
Lous Starr, a four-year-old Sweet Lou-Amantha Starr stallion who competed in the 2025 Little Brown Jug final, won for the ninth time in Woodstock. Corey Braden engineered the last-to-first win in Saturday's Open, which was led by Rebellious (William Carter) from the start through mid-stretch. Lous Starr was seventh and last through the opening half-mile and moved up to fifth at three-quarters, then came outside on the final turn and advanced to third at the top of the stretch. The eventual winner powered past Rebellious, then held off fast-closing Noblesville (Gerry Longo) and crossed the line 1-1/4 lengths the best in 1:54.1, the fastest time of the weekend's 22 races. Rebellious finished third. Lous Starr is now 15-for-47 lifetime. He paid $3 to win.
Baltimore Jack N ($10.40) wired the field in a $8,681 conditioned pace. The 11-year-old Auckland Reactor N-Damores First gelding was in front by a head turning for home and succeeded in fending off Thor And Dr Jones (William Carter) to win by a head in 1:56.2. Hillbillypacinhill (Christian Myers) was third. Corey Braden piloted the winner to career victory number 31 in 209 starts.
KJ The Thirteenth ($4), recognized by both the Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association and the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association as Maryland's 2025 three-year-old trotting filly of the year, went coast-to-coast in the $11,806 conditioned trotting feature in 1:58. Justin Vincent drove the daughter of ll Mago-My Kid Sister to her 14th career win in 50 outings. Braggen Bliss (Nick Roland) was second, two lengths behind the winner. Vulcan Hanover (Billy Carter) completed the top three.
Warnick, coming off a career-best season of 43 wins, is 16-for-90 so far in 2026. He leads the Shenandoah standings after opening weekend.
Gerry Longo's A Major Omen ($19.40) headlined Sunday action with a nail-biting win in an $11,111 conditioned pace. The 10-year-old Art Major-Omen Hanover gelding thwarted Bluebird Ina's (Billy Carter) attempt to wire the field by sticking a neck in front of the pacestter just before the finish to win in 1:54.4. Lenda Hand Man (Corey Braden) was third. Longo drove and trained A Major Omen to his 53rd lifetime win in 224 starts.
Shenandoah Downs resumes its seven-week spring season on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, with cards beginning at 1:05 p.m. each day. The meet continues through May 24.
(With files from Shenandoah Downs; photo of Lous Starr in the winner's circle after winning the Saturday Open)