Hi Im Johnny Kash scored a two and a half-length victory in the $8,150 final leg of the U Gotta Win One Now Pacing Series last night at Colonial Downs. The finale was contested at a distance of one and a quarter miles.
Owner/trainer Charlie Dunavant’s horse connected early in the series with wins in 1:52.1 at the mile distance and in 1:23.3 at the three-quarter-mile distance.
Gaje, the other pacer with two series wins in 1:53.1 and 1:24, posed the biggest threat to Hi Im Johnny Kash last night, and, as expected, the duo turned for home together.
Chris Page, the hottest driver on the grounds, directed Hi Im Johnny Kash, and he never let Gaje go past his pacer in the stretch. The seven-year-old Mark Jonathan gelding crossed in 2:25.4, while Gaje held on for second and Hi Dollar Cam took third.
In the $9,750 final of the New Kent Pacing Series, Out Of My Hands reached the winner's circle for the third time in four series legs, and set a new life's mark in doing so.
Jack Daily drove the Kandace Schooley-trained pacer to a wire-to-wire effort and cut the fractions in :27.1, :56.4 and1:24.4 before tripping the final timer in 1:53.2. The three-year-old Cole Muffler gelding hung on for a half-length triumph over Allamerican Solo. Despite Out Of My Hands’ success in the late closer, he paid a surprising $11.80 to win.
Colonial Downs presents a ten-race harness card today at 5:00 p.m.
(With files from Colonial)