Woodstock, VA — Trainer Scott Warnick kicked off the Shenandoah Downs spring harness meet in Woodstock by scoring a natural hat trick mid-card Saturday (April 11) with wins in three consecutive races. He connected with Debbie Warnick’s Baltimore Jack N, Scott Woogen’s K J The Thirteenth and Dan Chansky’s Lou’s Starr.
Baltimore Jack N wired the field in a $6,250 conditioned pace. The 11-year-old Auckland Reactor gelding was in front by a head turning for home and succeeded in fending off Thor And Dr Jones and Hillbillypacinhill to win by that same head margin in 1:56.2. Corey Braden piloted the winner to career victory number 31.
K J The Thirteenth, recognized by both the Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association and the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association as Maryland‘s 2025 three-year-old mare trotter of the year, went coast-to-coast in the $8,500 trotting feature in 1:58. Justin Vincent drove the daughter of Il Mago to her 14th career win. Set The Pace Racing’s Braggen Bliss was second, two lengths behind, for trainer/driver Nick Roland, who had three driving wins over the weekend.
Lou’s Starr, a 4-year-old Sweet Lou horse who competed in the 2025 Little Brown Jug final, won for the ninth time in Woodstock. Cory Braden led the come-from-behind win in a $10,000 Open Handicap, which was led by P T Stable’s Rebellious from the start through mid-stretch. Lou’s Starr, pacing fifth at the third fraction, came outside in 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 and crossed 1-1/4 lengths the best in 1:54.1, the fastest time of the weekend’s 22 races.
Gerry Longo’s A Major Omen headlined Sunday (April 12) action with a nail biting win in a $8,000 conditioned pace. The 10-year-old Art Major gelding thwarted William Carter Jr.’s Bluebird Ina’s attempt to wire the field by sticking a neck in front of the race leader just before the finish. Longo led A Major Omen to his 53rd lifetime win and pushed the gelding’s bankroll to $498,759.
Shenandoah Downs resumes its seven-week spring season this coming Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, with cards beginning at 1:05 p.m. each day. The meet continues through May 24.