Viking Mia and Ten Yard Penalty did not win first leg divisions of the Hal Belote Memorial Trotting Series last Saturday at the one mile distance, but when the second leg races were contested at one and a quarter miles Saturday at Colonial Downs, the pair thrived
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Viking Mia kicked things off with a relatively easy three and a half length win in the first $4,500 division courtesy of a perfect drive from reinsman Joey Mapes. The seven-year-old trotting mare had a perfect pocket journey through the early fractions as front-stepping Koala Kat triggered a half in :58.3 and a mile in 1:59.1. Mapes came outside, trotted past Koala Kat and crossed in 2:28.3. Elton Blue Chip got up for second and RT Phoebes Giant took third. Viking Mia, trained by Harla Loney for owner Richard Lindsey, returned $19.80.
Ten Yard Penalty, fourth last week, passed four trotters in the stretch to cap off a nice comeback effort in the second division. Trainer-driver Craig Fletcher’s horse, which was sent off at nearly 13-1, upset first leg division winners Dreamanotherdream (Dan O’Mara) and Willin Dylan (Jason MacDougall), who finished second and third respectively Saturday. O’Mara’s trotter looked strong throughout, triggering the halfway fraction in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.3. The five-year-old Dream Vacation gelding carried a one and a half lead into the stretch, but Ten Yard Penalty trotted right by and crossed four lengths ahead in 2:28.3. The six-year-old Giant Hit gelding earned his 18th lifetime win for owner Kelly Jacobs.
Driver Mapes had a pair of other wins on the card. Besides scoring with Viking Mia, the newcomer to the Virginia racing circuit connected with Jessie JR and Pinball Machine.
(Colonial Downs)