Jane Dunavant's Kats Fancy got to the front in the $122,740 Virginia Breeders Stakes Three-Year-Old Filly Trot at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, June 7, held off challenges from stablemate Peggys Girl and betting choice Caviart Glory without ever relinquishing the lead, then surged to a half-length win in 1:56.1. The time established a new track record in that division and new life mark, which was three seconds faster than her previous best on a half-mile oval.
The three-year-old Dusty Winner-Koala Kat filly authored initial panels of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:29.1 with Cody Poliseno in the sulky. Caviart Glory, a 19-length winner in her lone Breeders Stakes prep, took over second after the half and threatened the remainder of the race, staying within half a length but couldn't power past the champ. K J The Thirteenth finished third.
Kats Fancy, who broke stride early in both eliminations, is trained by Carlo Poliseno. Despite the breaks, the winning filly finished second and fourth in those two early races.
Cary Grady's HS Jesse caught up with front-stepper Mane Man Charlie at the top of the stretch in the $118,630 Three-Year-Old & Gelding Trot, eased on by and finished 2-1/4 lengths the best in 1:58.3. The Gregory Pecs-Speedy Kim Mindale gelding is trained and driven by Jospeh Carroll. HS Jesse broke stride in last year's freshman finale but stayed flat all the way around in the sophomore tilt.
Elwood Tignor and Deborah Mulligan's homebred Toys Little Tinker powered forward from third in the final turn and surged past KJ Becky and Proper Lady en route to a 5-1/4-length win in the $124,795 Three-Year-Old Filly Pace on Sunday, June 8. The Rustys For Real-Cool Toy filly finished first in an initial prep division in 1:55 then took fourth in the second leg. Driver Billy Carter, who also trains the champ, led the 1:55.1 winning effort. Proper Lady and KJ Becky duelled through the initial trio of fractions -- rarely no more than a nose apart - and hit the panels in :26 3, :55 and 1:25.1. Both scored early leg victories and were the two favourites heading into Sunday's clash. The former finished second and the latter took third.
In Sunday's $119,452 colt counterpart, heavily favoured Paxamillion authored a near wire-to-wire triumph in 1:54.4 though the margin of victory was just a neck — following dominant 5-1/2 and 6-1/4-length scores in the elimination rounds. Driver Tyler Shehan guided the Sweet Lou-The Signature gelding past front-stepping Choices Honor just after the quarter mark then went on to cut fractions of :56.4, 1:26 and 1:54.4 the rest of the way. Caviart Cash finished second and Bday took third. Trainer Britney Dillion shares ownership of the winner with William Hartt, Howard Taylor and Jamie Durnberger-Smith.
A four-pack of $27,397 Virginia Breeders Fund Aged Stakes highlighted the weekend's undercards. Chuck Perry's Johns Dream — winningest horse in Shenandoah Downs history — wired the field in Sunday's first pacing division in 1:55.2 and earned career win number 50 at the age of 12. Ivan Foltz's Bgoing Away capped off a stellar final month in Woodstock, Virginia by winning the second division by a quarter of a length over Caviart Simon in a new life mark of 1:54.1. He was trained and driven by Archie Buford.
Room4040 LLC Stables' Ellens Wish and Scott Woogen's Geralds A Keeper each won trotting divisions on Saturday. The former collected a tight half-length win in 1:58.2 while the latter wired the field in 1:59.1 and crossed 3-1/2 lengths the best. Leading reinsman Fern Paquet Jr. had the winning drive in both; he trains Ellens Wish and drove Geralds A Keeper for the Gary Messenger stable.
Virginia Breeders Stakes three-year-old championship weekend ushered out the 2025 spring racing season in Woodstock. Virginia Breeders Stakes two-year-old eliminations and finals, in addition to the inaugural Virginia Sired Stakes for freshmen, will take place during the fall meet, which runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 26. Fall meet details and racing applications will be available at shenandoahdowns.com in the coming days.
(With files from Shenandoah Downs)