Trainer-driver Brad Irvine captured both divisions of the Horace Martin Memorial Pacing Series Wednesday afternoon at Colonial Downs as the 17th annual harness racing season got underway.
Both Bagel Man and Ricks Crossroads faced eight other foes in their respective divisions but took different paths to the winner's circle. The late closer races were contested at a distance of seven-eighths of a mile.
Bagel Man, an 11-year-old Im The Chairpan gelding, sat fifth through the first trio of fractions before making an outside move on Scarboro Hanover and AJs Poppop, who were dueling for the lead. Irvine smartly guided Bagel Man to third at the head of the stretch before easily sweeping by the front steppers. He crossed the wire in 1:39.1, 3-1/4 lengths ahead of McBlack.
Ricks Crossroads did not need a come-from-behind effort as he sailed to a 4-1/4 length triumph in wire-to-wire fashion. The eight-year-old Dream Away gelding never led by more than a length until the straightaway and carried a lead of only a nose into the third fraction. He finished in 1:40.2 and earned his 21st career win.
The Martin Series will extend to a mile distance next Wednesday and the 1-1/4 mile distance for the third and final legs.
River Runs Deep and Wishingonadragon scored first leg victories in the VHHA Pacing Series on Wednesday. Chuck Perry’s three-year-old Riverboat King colt River Runs Deep wired his field in 1:55.4 while trainer Stacy McLenaghan got her third win of the card with Wishingonadragon in an identical 1:55.4 clocking.
Colonial Downs will next host a nine-race card on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. The season continues through October 26 with racing every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
(Colonial Downs)